FoodieHall, a new virtual dining hall, delivery-only, “e-restaurant,” is coming to Cherry Hill, offering a variety of cuisines – from Mexican, Asian, to high-end Italian to burgers – that can be placed as a single order and all delivered at the same time.
The “value and mission-driven, virtual food hall” is the product of entrepreneurs Dan Goldberg and Nick Ballias and will open in February at 1931 Olney Ave. in Cherry Hill, offering cuisine from several different new concepts from one state-of-the-art 4,000 square-foot kitchen.
“FoodieHall is 100 percent developed for delivery, from fast-casual to upscale with choices everyone will enjoy,” said Goldberg in a press release from the company. “Families will no longer have to compromise on one restaurant, as we will have options for everyone.”
Ghost kitchens and virtual dining halls have become more popular during the COVID-19 pandemic, with takeout and food delivery services taking hold as alternatives to indoor dining. As a result, many more Americans have become familiar with online menus and delivery apps.
FoodieHall’s restaurant concepts include Dando Tacos; Fornire Italian Kitchen (high-end Italian); Canting Noodle Bar (Asian); Criss Crust (pizza); Simply Fowl (casual chicken), and DaNick’s Craft burgers, according to a press release from the company. There will also be dedicated kids’ menus.
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All individual orders will arrive together via delivery inside secure, tamper-proof, recyclable packaging. Orders can be placed directly through FoodieHall’s website, as well as other established food delivery companies, it said.
“We are really excited for this new concept,” said Ballias, who owns and operates the Wingcraft Kitchen and Beer Bar in Atlantic City and has more than two decades of restaurant experience. “With all that is going on in the world right now, we believe this is the type of restaurant operation that should be extremely successful from the start. It will give customers a brand new type of at-home dining experience, and we will begin to develop additional concepts once we get rolling.”
In addition to co-founding Apparition Kitchen LLC in Cherry Hill with Ballias in 2020, which essentially led to the development of FoodieHall, Goldberg has more than 25 years of marketing and business development experience in hospitality, consumer products, sports memorabilia, financial services and Internet marketing. The co-founders are in charge of all business operations.
Chef Georgeann Leaming, a former Food Network “Chopped” champion, is the culinary director for FoodieHall and will oversee and handcraft the menu for every brand inside the new business, the release says.
Leaming previously served as executive chef at Gordon Ramsay Steak, and Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill in Atlantic City, as well as chef de cuisine at Chef Daniel Stern’s R2L in Philadelphia. She also has co-owned two Philadelphia eateries.
“We are thrilled to have Georgeann on board to develop a plethora of high-end restaurant concepts, with a wide variety of menu options for everyone,” Goldberg added.
The blog South Jersey Food Scene first broke the news about FoodieHall on Thursday.
FoodieHall also has a charitable initiative: Its Meal4Meal program. For every meal ordered, the business will donate a meal to Feeding America, which supports food banks nationwide.
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“Meal4Meal is a vitally important element to our mission to support the community where we live and work,” Ballias explained. “We founded the Meal4Meal concept because too many of our neighbors do not have adequate food to eat. We’re determined to be part of a solution to help others.”
The location of FoodieHall is in an office park setting off Olney in the same complex as Bury the Hatchett Cherry Hill, an axe-throwing recreation center, and across the street from Forgotten Boardwalk Brewing Company, which is at 1940 Olney Ave., suite 100. The now-closed Garden State Discovery Museum also was located nearby.
“We are so excited to have FoodieHall as our new neighbors,” said Jamie Queli, Forgotten Boardwalk owner. “We think they will help with the local economy and bring in a new customer base, and we are very excited to not only try their food, but to be a part of their opening event very soon.
“We couldn’t be more thrilled to have people like Dan and Nick as business owners across the street from us. As Forgotten Boardwalk is also planning to open our back warehouse to private events and parties, it’ll be a great addition to have them as a catering option, as well.”
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Cherry Hill Mayor Susan Shin Angulo said in an email statement provided to the Courier Post, that she welcomed the concept to the town.
“Cherry Hill is open for business, and we welcome new options to add to our dynamic food scene,” she said.
“Convenient, fresh-made food options are more popular than ever, particularly with families with children. I look forward to FoodieHall being part of the community and wish them all the success.”
Celeste E. Whittaker is a features reporter for the Courier Post, Daily Journal and Burlington County Times. The South Jersey native started at the CP in 1998 and has covered the Philadelphia 76ers, college and high school sports and has won numerous awards for her work. Reach her at 856.486.2437 or [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter at @cp_CWhittaker.
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