Google's Pier 57 redevelopment is 'a love letter to New York City'

For 23 years, California-based tech giant Google has been building its New York presence, adding a local workforce of 12,000 people and becoming an engine of the city’s increasingly important tech sector.

On April 1 it will open a 50,000-square-foot public space and market on the ground floor of Pier 57, at West 15th St. and the Hudson River.

In April 2022 Google moved about 500 employees, including some on the Cloud team, into the space. A 2-acre public rooftop park opened at the same time. City Winery also took space on the ground floor. In January Pier 57 won a Historic Preservation Award from the state.

Google has offices in the building as well, making it the westernmost point of a campus that runs from Eighth Avenue to the river.

Pier 57 was originally a wooden shipping terminal, built in 1907 and burned down in 1947. In 1952 the city Department of Marine and Aviation rebuilt it to use as the terminal for Grace Line, the passenger ship service; it was the city’s largest dock building. Later, it became a bus depot. It closed in 2003.

The downstairs opening is the result of a redevelopment that began when Google expanded its lease in 2018, not for more offices but rather for the civic-minded project of creating the indoor public space and food hall, called Market 57, which will open this weekend. The space encompasses community classrooms that are bookable by nonprofit organizations and have a slate of programming scheduled. There is also a virtual “discovery tank,” where visitors can learn about Hudson River ecology.

The food hall focuses on businesses run by women and people of color. Vendors include an offshoot of Harlem’s Lolo’s Seafood Shack, called LoLo’s on the Water; a stand from Crown Heights’ plant-based Ethiopian restaurant, Ras Plant Based; and a location of Elmhurst, Queens Thai spot, Zaab Zaab. The lineup also includes Bird & Brand, Due Madri, Local Roots, Malai, Mijo, Mothershuckers, Nom Wah, Harlem Hops, the Galley by Lobster Place and the Good Batch.

The James Beard Foundation installed a showcase kitchen and educational space that will have events and rotating chefs-in-residence. The foundation is also operating a fast-casual restaurant that will bring in different operators.

“We’ve dreamed up a new way to come together as a city and invite the world to experience the magic of New York in the neighborhood we first called home,” reads a Google blog post titled “Pier 57, a Love Letter to New York City.” You can read more here. 

A love letter to New York City with food…no better combination for our team. We cannot wait to visit the new food hall. Happy Passover and Happy Easter to all those who celebrate.

Warm regards,