Hamptons-based cafe Hampton Chutney Company is bringing its South Indian-inspired cuisine to Manhattan this year. It has inked a 15-year lease for a 2,786-square-foot space at 740 Broadway in NoHo, according to a release. This will be the company’s first foray into Manhattan since it closed its last Manhattan location in 2021.
“We are excited to welcome Hampton Chutney Company back to New York City at 740 Broadway, right in the heart of NoHo,” Neith Stone of GFP Real Estate said in the release. “This high-visibility location puts them in the center of a vibrant neighborhood filled with students, locals, office workers and tourists — an ideal spot for the brand to reconnect with the city and reach a wide, diverse audience.”
The space will include 1,256 square feet of ground-floor space and 1,530 square feet of basement storage space.
“We’re excited to welcome Hampton Chutney Company to 2 Astor Place,” Ross Kaplan of Newmark, who helped broker the deal, said in the release. “GFP was focused on finding a tenant that aligned with the energy and quality of the building and the neighborhood, and Hampton Chutney Company is a perfect fit. They are a great partner to add tremendous value to the property and streetscape.”
Husband-and-wife team Gary and Isabel MacGurn launched Hampton Chutney Company in 1995, selling chutneys to markets in the Hamptons and New York City retailers. They opened a brick-and-mortar location in 1997 in Amagansett, serving chutney and dosas in a fast-casual environment, which are South Indian sourdough crepes.
Isabel told What Now New York that the two met in India, where they learned to make authentic dosas.
“Dosas are not easy to make, which is why you don’t see a lot of dosa restaurants around,” Isabel said. “It’s a complex process. We also make authentic chai, potato masala and different fillings.”
The menu includes curry chicken dosas, potato masala dosas and Indian fusion options. They also serve a kids’ menu featuring simple items like cheese dosas.
Isabel said that the menu has a broad appeal. Dosas are gluten-free and are less oily than other fast-casual foods, aligning the brand with health-conscious trends.
“The neighborhood in NoHo is a perfect location for our clientele,” Isabel said.
This will not be their first venture into Manhattan. They expanded to a location in New York City in 2001 and added a spot on the Upper West Side in 2006. However, they closed their last Manhattan location in 2021. Isabel told What Now New York that they previously closed their locations in New York City because of lease endings and rent hikes amid the COVID-19 pandemic. As of now, they continue to operate one location in East Hampton Village.
The new NoHo location will feature a calming environment with simple furnishings, in line with the Hampton Chutney Company brand.
“Our customers from New York who come out here are so excited about us coming back to New York,” Isabel said. “It just feels like New Yorkers sort of need this oasis to go into, to step off the busy sidewalk and be in a bit of a peaceful environment.”
Moving forward, the MacGurns plan to bring their son into the business to help expand the brand in New York City. However, they are focusing on the NoHo spot first, which Isabel said they hope to open by late fall, though it will depend on permits and construction.
“Right now, we have to focus on Astor Place,” Isabel said. “We have a big buildout to do that will take many months. But after we’re up and running, we’re open to finding a few more spots in Manhattan.”
