By Molly Given

Gather Food Hall is just days away from opening, and once it does, it aims to bring a mix of Philadelphia favorites and minority-owned startups under one roof.

The new venue is the brainchild of Hospitality HQ co-CEO and founding partner, Akhtar Nawab. The award-winning chef and restaurateur oversees the organization — which is currently the fastest-growing food hall management company in the US — and has already seen success with other projects in cities like New York and Los Angeles.

Gather specifically is housed in Schuylkill Yards, and will ultimately become a hub for office tenants, students, and locals in University City to meet, collaborate, and share meals and drinks.

“Philadelphia is a destination that has long been on our radar at Hospitality HQ,” says Nawab. “The city’s dining culture has experienced an incredible wave of innovation in recent years, and we felt that University City – and the energy of Schuylkill Yards – was the perfect setting for a food hall that celebrates that spirit of growth and creativity.”

Local favorites and fresh faces

Current food vendors already connected to the space include Federal Donuts & Chicken, Mucho Perú, Sahbyy Food, El Mictlan and Bowl’d Masala.

Federal has been a donut staple in the city since 2011. Locals and tourists who have come to know the brand and all its treats (like the classic spiced cake donuts tossed hot in either strawberry lavender, cinnamon brown sugar, or cookies & cream blended sugars) also saw the addition of chicken to not just its menu, but also its name in 2024. At the Food Hall, visitors can order a sweet treat with breakfast sandwiches, fried chicken sandwiches, coffee, teas, and more.

Mucho Perú, on the other hand, was founded by Brizna Rojas and Aldo Obando. The concept launched in 2024 with a series of successful pop-up events across Center City, Fishtown, and the Main Line. Now with the Food Hall, Philadelphians will have a central place to try empanadas, ceviche, fresh salads, a Peruvian pork belly sandwich, hearty bowls, and traditional desserts like alfajores and tres leches.

Locals may also already know Sahbyy Food, or more popularly, how they introduced the Cambodian Lemongrass Cheesesteak in the Southeast Asian Market at FDR Park. The fan-favorite menu item will be on the menu with Sahbyy’s first brick and mortar in Gather, as will a Ch’Kai Chili Dog, Sahbyy Bolognese, wings in an assortment of sauces, and more.

El Mictlan (a small, family-owned South Philadelphia spot) will be bringing its authentic Mexican West Coast cuisine to the experience as well. The opening menu will feature a taco bar with an assortment of taco varieties (including shrimp, chicken, butternut squash, al pastor, birria, barbacoa, and more), plus, accompanying menu items spanning house-made guacamole, tuna tostadas, and a rotating selection of seasonal dishes.

And with Bowl’d Masala, Pankaj Kumar’s COVID-founded Cloud Kitchen has since grown into a thriving franchise network with locations in food halls, malls, and community hubs nationwide. At their Gather Food Hall location specifically, guests can experience Bowl’d Masala’s signature blend of traditional street flavors and health-conscious options, with a menu that includes customizable bowls, wraps, and salads alongside tandoori wings, naan pizzas, hot drinks, and more.

Gather will also feature the Bulletin Bar, a full-service bar inspired by the newspaper printing press that once occupied the site. The offerings will span a menu of handcrafted cocktails, draft beer, and wine.

Tackling food insecurity

The new concept is not only aiming to become a destination for food in the area, it’s also here to give opportunities.

Many aspiring chefs and restaurant professionals face barriers for entry, from resource gaps to a lack of professional mentorship. Two of Gather Food Hall’s stalls were awarded to outstanding chefs facing these issues and were supported by $25,000 grants from the city, low-interest loans and a mentoring program. Gather Food Hall equips its vendors with the experiential skills and knowledge to grow their businesses as well, but its also looking to address an underexposed issue in the community: food insecurity among college students.

According to a release, Gather is working in partnership with Believe in Students to provide impacted college students low-cost, stigma-free meals while connecting them with broader supports and solutions. Brandywine Realty Trust has made a ten-year, $250,000 commitment to the project, and Gather will provide diners with the opportunity to participate in this effort.

“It’s hard to focus on school when you’re not sure where your next meal is coming from,” explains Traci Kirtley, Executive Director of Believe in Students. “Gather Food Hall is establishing an innovative approach to solving this issue by not only feeding students but elevating the issue in our public consciousness.”

Opening day details

Gather Food Hall  will officially open to the public on Friday, Oct. 31 at Schuylkill Yards (3025 Market St.) Hours of operation will run every Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. (Federal Donut will open daily at 8 a.m.)

Locals can follow along on social @gatherfoodhallphilly and visit gatherfoodhall.com for more information.