Food Hall News
Food hall news, week of Sept. 8: Chain tests a food hall residency and Sam Jones BBQ joins Morgan Street
A pop-up brand tries a six-month stay at a mall food hall, a well-known barbecue name signs on in Raleigh, a Wisconsin mall plans a public market, and a small-town Iowa market works on foot traffic.
- 1LeasingLos Angeles
Chain uses a six-month food hall residency to test a longer-term format
Topanga Social
Chain, the chef-driven fast-food nostalgia brand that has mostly run pop-ups since 2021, started a six-month residency on Sept. 2 at Topanga Social, the 55,000-square-foot food hall inside Westfield Topanga in Canoga Park. Chefs Roy Choi, Calvin Eng, Mason Hereford and Mei Lin are creating dishes for it, and Chain plans monthly brand collaborations there. CEO Steve Milton told Fast Casual the company wants to learn how guests respond in a high-traffic retail setting before it announces anything permanent.
Why it matters A fixed-term residency gives a hall a known name for a set stretch and gives the brand a low-commitment test, a different deal shape from a standard multi-year stall lease.
Source: Fast Casual, Sept. 8, 2026Browse the food hall directory - 2LeasingRaleigh, N.C.
Sam Jones BBQ signs on for a second Raleigh spot inside Morgan Street Food Hall
Morgan Street Food Hall
Sam Jones BBQ is opening its second Raleigh location inside Morgan Street Food Hall, less than a mile from its restaurant on West Lenoir Street, WRAL reported. The food hall stall will have a limited food and drink menu and is expected to open by the end of the year. Jones said Morgan Street founder Niall Hanley approached him about the space and was flexible and easy to work with.
Why it matters It shows a hall going after an established local name rather than waiting for applicants, and a brand willing to open a small-format second location close to its flagship.
Source: WRAL, Sept. 9, 2026See it in our North Carolina guide - 3DevelopmentBrookfield, Wis.
Brookfield Public Market sets an Oct. 10 groundbreaking at a former mall anchor
Brookfield Public Market
A ceremonial groundbreaking for Brookfield Public Market is set for Oct. 10 at Brookfield Square, The Freeman reported. The market will turn the mall’s north end, the former Boston Store site at 95 N. Moorland Road, into a destination for food, drinks and experiences, bringing together food and beverage providers, retail vendors, community events and an event space. It’s a collaboration of the City of Brookfield, Visit Brookfield and Irgens Development, with opening expected in late fall 2027.
Why it matters Former department store boxes keep turning up as food hall and market sites, and this one pairs a developer with the city and its tourism office.
Source: The Freeman, Sept. 10, 2026Browse the food hall directory - 4PerformanceNewton, Iowa
Six months in, Gray Moon Public Market is still building steady traffic
Gray Moon Public Market
Gray Moon Public Market opened in a former Montgomery Ward building in downtown Newton after a $4.8 million historic renovation, funded in part with state and federal historic tax credits plus a grant and a forgivable loan from the city. The roughly 15,000-square-foot building has 16 businesses, including food vendors, a bar and event space, and a second-floor retail co-op where owners share one register; owner Jerry Schwaller said the upstairs retail is full with a waiting list. He told Business Record the market is working through foot traffic and awareness issues, and that downtown revitalization probably takes three to five years.
Why it matters It’s a candid look at the first months of a small-town market hall, where public incentives got the building open but steady customer traffic is still the open question.
Source: Business Record, Sept. 10, 2026Browse the food hall directory
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