Limelight Marketplace

656 Avenue of the Americas (at 20^th Street)

212.226.7585

http://limelightmarketplace.com/index.html

It began as a church. And then it became Limelight - a place synonymous with parties, music, drugs and dancing.  When Limelight's doors closed, then re-opened as Avalon, and then closed again, the neo-Gothic church took on a gloomy feel.  Devoid of late-night party-goers, the venue just seemed abandoned.

But now all is about to change. The Limelight Marketplace has moved in. Under its vaulted ceilings, the marketplace will hold an array of goodies.  The ground-floor level will offer caviar, olive oils, breads, meats, cheeses and condiments.  For sweeter treats there are many options to choose from - running the saccharine gamut - from little chocolates to pop in your mouth as you peruse, to candies, cakes, brownies, cookies and frozen options.  The vendors include: MarieBelle Sweets, Mari's New York, Butterfly Bakeshop, Cupcake Stop, It's Sugar, The Little Candy Cake Company, WannaHavaCookie, Baci Gelato and Jala Frozen Yogurt. 

Because this is New York, there will be pizza via the pizza institution, Grimaldi's.  There are still two more restaurant spaces to be leased out.  Who or what kind of food will move into the spaces remains to be seen.

Although I am more focused on the food than anything else, the Limelight Marketplace experience is not strictly a belly-busting affair.  There are retail shops for clothes and accessories, a kitchenware store, an apothecary floor, a sneaker gallery, music shop, hair salon and a home goods level.  It is designed to be a unique shopping experience with a range of brands, goods and foods.

It opens today, May 7^th with its schedule following as such: Monday-Saturday, from 10am to 10pm  Sunday has more limited hours, from 11am to 7pm.