CEO Didier Souillat Dishes On Opening Time Out Market Boston

Photo Credit: Time Out Market Boston

James Beard-award winning chef Michael Schlow will be joining an impressive roster of Boston’s top chefs (think Tim and Nancy Cushman of o ya and Tony Maws of Craigie on Main) when Time Out Market prepares to open at 401 Park Drive. The 25,000-square foot food and cultural market will bring the best of city under one roof – from cocktails to cultural experiences all based on editorial curation. There will be 15 different eateries to choose from here, including two bars, a demo kitchen and retail shop.

Tim and Nancy Cushman will be taking over two kitchens at the market. One concept – Ms. Cluck’s Deluxe Chicken & Dumplings – will offer their unique take on chicken and dumplings riffing on Asian cuisines while the second –gogo ya – will offer dishes like Crispy Nori Sushi Tacos and Bento Bowls inspired by o ya’s signature sushi and sashimi. Other culinary additions include a Roman-style pizzeria by Michael Schlow, artisanal Italian gelato from Gelato & Chill, a plant-based menu from Revolution Health Kitchen and a wine bar from the folks at BISq. Other Time Out Markets are set to open in Miami, New York and Chicago.

We caught up recently with Didier Souillat, CEO of Time Out Market, to discuss why they decided to open a location in Boston and what attracted the city’s top chefs to jump on board.

Why did you think now was the perfect time to open a Time Out Market in Boston?

There are many reasons for us to open Time Out Market in Boston. It is a city where the food scene has been steadily evolving and the restaurant scene is very supportive of young local chefs (as are we) – this ensures that there is a constantly growing pool of talent. This thriving home grown culinary scene put Boston on the map for us – and we have already curated some of the top names for Time Out Market. Secondly, we found a wonderful site with a landlord, Samuels & Associates, that shares our values. 401 Park Drive is woven into The Fenway – a vibrant and dynamic neighborhood where people come to work, live and enjoy themselves.

Can you tell us about why you chose the art deco building in Fenway as the location?

The reason why we chose the art deco building in Fenway as the home for Time Out Market Boston is simple: Not only is 401 Park a historical gem of The Fenway, this is also a cultural and dining hub in the city of Boston. We are thrilled for Time Out Market Boston to add to the fabric of this neighborhood that is so rich in history. Respecting the history of the iconic building, the site will get a modern design, perfectly reflective of Boston and the Time Out brand. The 25,500 sq ft space will feature 15 eateries to choose from plus two bars, a demo kitchen, a retail shop and local culture.

From Tim and Nancy Cushman of o ya to Tony Maws of Craigie on Main, some of Boston’s best chefs and restaurants will be well represented here. Why do you think they were eager to jump on board?

Time Out Market is unlike anything else – it is the world’s first food and cultural market based wholly on editorial curation. Our local Time Out critics test and taste the best of the city and then we select and invite the very best to join Time Out Market. It is where you can get a true taste of the city because we bring the best of the city under one roof. We are making fine dining casual, and casual extraordinary – we are dedicated to democratizing fine dining. It is this quality that attracts a city’s top chefs and restaurateurs. We have demonstrated how successful the Time Out Market format is with our first site that opened in Lisbon in 2014 and which in 2018 attracted 3.9 million visitors, making it Portugal’s most popular attraction.

In addition, we make it very easy for our chefs to join without having to invest their own money: we provide a great space, perfectly equipped kitchens and support services – our chefs and their teams only have to move in, bring their ingredients with them and start cooking their outstanding food. We have a passionate team behind Time Out Market with decades of experience in the global hospitality sector so we understand the impact of the finer details on an operator and consumer level. Part of the guest experience involves enjoying their meal on our high quality china with flatware and sipping on their beverages from glassware. The large communal tables allow guests to enjoy the best seat in the house and to stay and experience the market. Finally, we are part of Time Out – a global media and entertainment brand known for curating and writing about the best things to do in 315 cities across websites, magazines, social media, live events. Now this curation is brought to life at Time Out Market.

Photo Credit: Time Out Market Boston