FINANCIAL DISTRICT — After months of delays, gourmet Italian food market Eataly is pushing ahead with construction at 4 World Trade Center with the goal of opening in April.
"We've had some hurdles to work through," said Caolan Sleeper, Eataly's construction manager, about the 41,000-square-foot space finally moving forward at 4 WTC, with an anticipated April 14 launch date.
World Trade Center projects have been pushed back, in part, because of water leaks.
Sleeper spoke before Community Board 1's Financial District Committee Wednesday evening, asking for support for the massive market's liquor license.
Initially, Eataly — which will be open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekends — asked for a liquor license that will allow it to serve alcohol starting at 8 a.m. on weekdays.
CB1 eventually decided against the early start, pointing out that Eataly's Fifth Avenue location starts serving drinks at 11:30 a.m.
"There'll be government workers in [4 WTC]," said board member Frances Curtis. "I don't think alcohol available at 8 a.m. is necessarily the best idea."
Board members settled on an 11:30 a.m. start time for alcohol service, with Eataly agreeing to the revised time.