If you’ve ever been to the massive Italian market and food hall in Manhattan’s Flatiron District known as Eataly, you need no introduction to its extravagant offering of Italian products.
From pantry staples like extra-virgin olive oils, sauces, and artisanal pasta, to ready-to-eat meals, focaccia, and cut-to-order salumi and formaggi, the tastebuds and senses delight with Eataly’s celebration of Italy’s culinary bounty.
Now, fans of Eataly won’t have to travel far to indulge in the Italian culinary artistry.
Eataly is about to inaugurate a new destination at King of Prussia, its first location in Pennsylvania and the latest addition to the retailer’s 16 North American portfolio (it has more than 60 stores worldwide).
“Our mission at Eataly is to showcase the Italian art of living through unparalleled experiences, transporting guests to Italy through our unique mix of retail and dining,” said Tommaso Brusò, CEO of Eataly North America.
The KOP outlet will offer a shopping destination for the Greater Philadelphia area, he said.
The global Italian marketplace is set to open its King of Prussia location on Thursday, Oc. 2.
The 21,000+ square foot space will feature a sit-down restaurant with indoor and outdoor dining, several quick service counters for on-the-go eats, a retail selection featuring imported Italian goods alongside Eataly housemade items, and a wine store with labels from the North to the South of Italy.
“King of Prussia has long been a destination for the very best in the region for retail, and the addition of Eataly, further strengthens our position as a culinary hub,” said Jonathan Murphy, co-president of North American Real Estate at Simon Property Group, partners in the endeavor.
“We are incredibly proud to be home to Eataly’s first-ever location in Pennsylvania. We know that Eataly’s dedication to quality and tradition will resonate with our community, and the whole Philadelphia region, and we are thrilled to bring a taste of Italy to King of Prussia.”
Here are some of the coming highlights to whet your appetite:
The Restaurant: La Pizza & La Pasta will have more than 200 seats and offer Eataly’s signature dining concept dedicated to two iconic Italian dishes, Neapolitan-style pizza and artisanal pasta. Need more enticement? How about a helping of regionally-focused cuisine – including burrata alla caprese, tagliatelle alla bolognese, bucatini cacio e pepe, tiramisù – and classic Italian cocktails.
The Market: Oh decisions, decisions. You’ll have to choose from among hundreds of made-in-Italy products. Fresh pasta? Meats? Sweets? Save room for the wine: The Eataly wine store will carry over 450 Italian wine labels, plus a selection of Italian and local beers.
The Counters: From Roman-style pizza by the slice to the perfect espresso break, Eataly’s quick-service counters will offer a variety of options for dining in or on-the-go.
Here’s some name-dropping: Lavazza, La Pasticceria, Il Gelato, and Pizza alla Pala, which will highlight Roman-style pizza by the slice, panini, and farcita. Whether you go for the espresso, the ice cream or croissants….you can’t go wrong.
Can’t get to KOP immediately? No worries: Eataly has a 10-day celebration lineup, featuring tastings, demos, and more. Check out their website for more information.
The Manhattan store is a massive success — as are the locations in Boston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Chicago. KOP is about to get a little more garlicky.
To find Eataly KOP, head over to the part of the mall previously used by Rite Aid and Forever 21.