A new Southeast Asian food concept under the culinary direction of esteemed celebrity chef Nils Noren has signed a lease with Columbia University to open a new restaurant in Morningside Heights.
The new concept, called Ban Ban Shop, will be located at 2911 Broadway with a menu focused on customizable Bahn Mi sandwiches, Bao buns, grain bowls, salads, and maki rolls to allow plenty of options for vegan and gluten-free diners. In addition, Ban Ban Shop plans to offer items such as chicken noodle soup, kimchee slaw, roasted seasonal vegetables, as well as house-made drinks such as iced Vietnamese coffee, blood orange lemonade, and mint-honey iced green tea. The space is welcoming and designed to excite all five senses with its fun, eclectic and playful vibe.
Originally from Sweden, Noren has worked at several acclaimed restaurants, including KB restaurant in his native country where he earned a Michelin star, and Aquavit, which received two three-star reviews from the New York Times while he was executive chef. Following his tenure as Chef de Cuisine at Aquavit, Noren served as the vice president of Culinary and Pastry Arts at the International Culinary Center, the vice president of Restaurant Operations for the Marcus Samuelsson Group, and managed restaurants including Red Rooster Harlem, Num Pang Kitchen, and August Restaurant.
Columbia University owns and manages retail space across its three campuses, and its long-standing retail approach favors businesses like Ban Ban Shop that bring a variety of amenities and experiences to the Columbia and local communities. Ban Ban Shop joins Miznon, FIELDTRIP, Sapp's Restaurant, Loco Coco, and Trudy's Ice Cream as other Columbia retail tenants to have opened or signed leases in the Morningside Heights neighborhood this year.
Kenneth Hochhauser and Yoel Gorjian of Winick Realty Group were the exclusive brokers for the transaction.
Ban Ban Shop is anticipated to open during the first quarter of 2023.
