Urban Hawker, the Singaporean food hall in Midtown Manhattan, will close its doors on Friday, July 17. The closure comes after the sale of its building at 135 West 50th Street, located between Sixth and Seventh avenues. The new owners plan to redevelop the site.
Opened by Singaporean food expert K.F. Seetoh, Urban Hawker was inspired in part by the late Anthony Bourdain, who had championed the idea of bringing Singapore’s hawker culture to New York. The hall opened with a mix of vendors offering dishes such as Hainanese chicken rice, laksa, and chili crab. Lines for lunch specials were common, especially with Midtown office workers returning in larger numbers earlier this summer.
Vendors were notified last week of the impending closure. Several have started to look for new locations. Hainan Jones, one of the hall’s original tenants, posted a notice about the closing on social media Monday afternoon.
Urban Hawker’s final week is expected to draw both regulars and visitors seeking one last taste. Lunch crowds on Monday included tourists with suitcases and Midtown office staff picking up takeout before the rain. According to a vendor, menu items may be limited as inventories run down.
The redevelopment of 135 West 50th Street is still in early planning stages, according to a broker familiar with the sale. Details on the future use of the space have not been announced.