One of my earlier posts detailed the history of the Highline, which provided transport for the butchers that lined the streets below the train tracks. These butcher shops provided the lard for the National Biscuit Company and their late 1800’s, early 1900’s products.

In 1890 several local bakeries merged to create the New York Biscuit Company; they went on the build their factory (now known as Chelsea Market). In 1898 the New York Biscuit Company merged with the Chicago-based American Biscuit and Manufacturing company and changed their name to the National Biscuit Company or NaBisCo for short (hello Oreos!).

In 1958 Nabisco fled to the suburbs for more space, abandoning their urban home. Chelsea (along with the neighboring meat-packing district) fell into disrepute and became known for violence and crime (three murders occurred in the basement of the building while it lay in disarray and foreclosure). The building was purchased in 1990 with the idea of turning it into an attraction tourists would want to visit.

The building didn’t open until 1997, but it paved the way for a period of transformation in the area with restaurants, hotels, and eventually the High Line crowding into the space.

If you like architecture, history, or bougie restaurants or shops, then Chelsea Market is the place for you. You’ll find an array of restaurants (we can vouch for Chote Miya — Indian street food; Ayada — a family-owned Thai restaurant; Miznon — an Israeli restaurant; and Creamline — American food), international grocery stores, hipster clothing stores, pop-up art installations, and a handicrafts/artisan flea market.

The market is close to Little Island, the High Line, and the Starbucks Reserve shop; making it a great place to go for dinner or lunch while taking in the sights in the area.

On this particular trip, we met up with some friends for a late lunch and then walked the High Line and then over to Little Island. It was a pleasant way to spend an afternoon; the market always has great food, and with over six million visitors each year, there was plenty of opportunity to people-watch.

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/factory-oreos-built-180969121/

https://www.chelseamarket.com/our-story

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Nabisco