<div class="tldr">Chef Marcus Ortiz exited Canal & Orchard on the Lower East Side as of July 1. Ortiz plans to open a new project in Prospect Heights later this year.</div>\n\n<ul class="key-facts">\n <li>Marcus Ortiz left Canal & Orchard on July 1, 2024.</li>\n <li>Ortiz will open a Prospect Heights restaurant in fall 2024.</li>\n <li>Canal & Orchard has not announced a replacement chef.</li>\n</ul>\n\nChef Marcus Ortiz served as executive chef at Canal & Orchard for the past three years. The restaurant, located at 43 Orchard Street, opened in 2021 and became known for its seasonal menu. Ortiz confirmed his departure in a statement released July 2.\n\nOrtiz plans to launch a new restaurant in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn. The location has not been announced. Sources close to Ortiz indicated the opening is slated for fall 2024, but a specific date has not been set.\n\nRepresentatives for Canal & Orchard declined to comment on immediate succession plans for the kitchen. The restaurant remains open with its current staff. Canal & Orchard will release further updates regarding leadership changes later this summer.\n\nOrtiz is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America. He previously held positions at Loring Place and Estela before joining Canal & Orchard. His next project has not yet been named.\n\n<h2>Frequently Asked Questions</h2>\n<h2>Why did Marcus Ortiz leave Canal & Orchard?</h2>\n<p>Ortiz left Canal & Orchard to pursue a new restaurant project of his own in Prospect Heights. In a public statement, Ortiz described the departure as amicable and linked it to his desire to focus on independent ventures.</p>\n<h2>What is known about Ortiz's new Prospect Heights restaurant?</h2>\n<p>Ortiz's new restaurant does not have a disclosed name or exact location. It is expected to open in the fall of 2024. Details on the concept and team will be released closer to the launch date.</p>\n<h2>Who will lead the kitchen at Canal & Orchard now?</h2>\n<p>Canal & Orchard has not named a new executive chef. The restaurant is currently operating with its existing team, and management plans to announce further changes later in the summer.</p>