San Francisco's mid-market is gearing up for a major culinary shakeup with the opening of IKEA's new food hall, Saluhall, this Thursday. Spanning a hefty 23,000 square feet across two floors, Saluhall, which boasts an impressive 450 seats, is set to become a first-of-its-kind food destination that marries retail with gastronomy, according to SFist.
The eagerly awaited addition to the IKEA shopping complex will feature a melange of bars and eateries, including a beer bar dubbed Lagom Bar and a Nordic-inspired bakery and eatery named Smorgasland, created with input from Claus Meyer, co-founder of the iconic Noma restaurant. Designed as a multi-use space, Saluhall aims to host community gatherings, live music, and talks. Drawing on the expertise of the British hospitality firm KERB, the food hall is helmed by local and independent vendors, serving everything from vegan tacos by Taqueria La Venganza to plant-based noodle dishes by MOMO Noodle.
Ingka Centres, IKEA's development arm, partnered with KERB to purvey a food hall experience that promises to be anything but ordinary. Including a cooking school central to Saluhall's concept, they hope to activate the space as a local hotspot and culinary education center. San Francisco Mayor London Breed is even slated for some cinnamon roll action, according to Ian Dodds of KERB, who shared his enthusiasm for Saluhall's grand opening, as reported by SFist.
Saluhall's in-house offerings don't fall short of expectations, with an exclusive Saluhall beer, a Nordic-style lager crafted by Fort Point. The split yet contiguous Punsch Bar/Sauna Bar will offer unique cocktail experiences alongside Burgare Bar's plant-based burgers and Snoberg's oat-milk soft-serve ice cream. Saluhall's opening responds to the growing demand for versatile food destinations that promote sustainability and plant-based options.
Saluhall is "designed for all to engage with fabulous culinary experiences," per managing director Elise von Hellion in a statement obtained by KRON4. It stands not just as a model of IKEA's vision for community-centered retail spaces, but also as an arbiter of change in the mid-Market district which has witnessed the departure of several major retailers in recent years.
The doors of Saluhall open to the public at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday. Described by Dodds as a "landmark location" that will breathe new life into Market Street, its regular hours for most vendors will be from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., with Smörgåsland offering extended hours, starting from 8 a.m., revealed by SFist.
