According to a recent job post, Washington Hall, formerly known as Urbanspace, will change hands at 15 W Washington Street.
A representative of Washington Hall was not immediately available for commentary upon What Now Chicago’s request.
The job post provides additional information by stating, “Washington Hall, (formerly Urbanspace) is under new Leadership and aggressively moving toward full occupancy of 16 Vendors, an extensive Bar Renovation, and strategic Marketing, Catering, and Service initiatives!”
According to an Instagram post from Washington Hall, the new owners are Local Culture Management, based out of New York City. The biography section describes Washington Hall as Chicago’s “largest food hall,” with “14+ local food vendors.”
LCM’s website states, “As a placemaking agency, Local Culture works to develop new or transform underperforming real estate projects by conceptualizing world-class food and beverage activations. Since 2015, we’ve been redefining the modern food hall by humanizing underutilized spaces –combining innovative food and beverage concepts with world-class spatial design.”
The founder of Local Culture Management is Anna Castellini, with the Chief Operating Officer Gary Wishnow. Anna’s biography section states “With over 20 years in the hospitality industry, Anna’s attention to detail, deep understanding of different markets and communities, and evolving network of hospitality veterans and culinary leaders, has helped position Local Culture as the go-to agency for transforming underutilized spaces.”
“Recognized for her continued entrepreneurial spirit, deep knowledge of downtown Brooklyn, and network within the culinary industry, Anna was approached by Washington Square Partners to oversee design, construction, licensing, and vendor curation for what is now known as DeKalb Market Hall. The success of DeKalb Market Hall led to the emergence of Local Culture and opportunities to consult on, build, and operate various food halls.”
Gary’s background is described as “Gary’s understanding of numbers and systems provides organization and accountability in a chaotic industry. His expertise can be traced back to 17 years on Wall Street. Before joining Local Culture Management, Gary was the Managing Director of Rosenblatt Securities, the institutional brokerage firm with the largest New York Stock Exchange floor presence. During his tenure at Rosenblatt Securities, Gary created and built out the firm’s institutional Derivatives desk building a team under him and developing a track record of consistently performing under pressure.”
“Wishnow joined Local Culture in 2016 to build and scale Dekalb Market Hall. His prior expertise in overseeing financial projects, reporting, and controls allowed for a seamless transition into his new role as Chief Operating Officer. Gary oversaw DeKalb Market Hall’s entire construction, leasing strategy, and entire management of its daily operations.”
