Essex Market expands, adds new vendors on the Lower East Side

A popular food hall on the Lower East Side is expanding its plethora of dining options.

Popular Peruvian ceviche vendor Don Ceviche will expand his concept and offerings at Essex Market under the new name Mercado Lima. This new expansion, which will occupy a larger stall across from his current location, will include authentic Pollo a la Brasa, better known as Peruvian rotisserie chicken. Meanwhile, new vendor Essex Squeeze will operate out of Don Ceviche’s former market stall and offer an array of fresh juices, smoothies, acai bowls and build-your-own salads. Both vendors are expected to be up and running in their new spaces by mid-March.

Don Ceviche also travels around the city to do a pop-up food tent, recently the Peruvian stand was the talk of the town at the Bronx Night Market last summer.

“I feel very lucky to be able to showcase the culture and food of Peru in the amazing city of New York.” said Lenin Costas, Founder of Don Ceviche.

Currently, the new Essex Market currently has 37 vendors, space for two full-service restaurants, a demonstration kitchen for educational programming, and more. After it had undergone a period of decline in the 1970s, NYC Economic Development Corporation began to manage the Market in 1992, renovating the facilities and helping to catalyze the Market’s resurgence. In May 2019, the market was relocated into an expanded space within the nearby Essex Crossing project.

“It is amazing to see that less than a year after opening in the new location, Essex Market vendors are outgrowing their spaces. The demand for new items and more expansive menus speaks volumes about our vendors and the community as a whole” said NYCEDC Vice President of Retail Markets David Hughes. “We are thrilled to be introducing traditional Peruvian rotisserie chicken to the market and welcoming a chopped salad and fresh juice vendor, which is filling a much needed void in the culinary lineup of the Market,” Hughes added.

Meanwhile for the Cedric Hernandez, the founder of Essex Squeeze, this new venture hits very close to home.

“Having grown up in the Lower East Side in such an eclectic neighborhood, this is an amazing opportunity to offer something to the community that raised us,” Hernandez said, adding, “we are beyond excited to have an opportunity to own a business in our very own stomping grounds.”