Landmarks Commission Approves Upscale Food Hall for Historic Brooklyn Tower

A significant architectural landmark in Downtown Brooklyn is slated for a new chapter as the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) has officially approved plans for a high-end food hall within the former Williamsburgh Savings Bank Tower. The project, titled Cucina by Casa Tua, will occupy the building’s long-vacant banking hall at One Hanson Place.

Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment (BSE), which purchased the retail portion of the tower for $10.3 million in October 2024, is spearheading the development. The design, led by Acheson Doyle Partners Architects and Hapstak Demetriou, focuses on adaptive reuse of the space. Plans include the installation of new mezzanines that will overlook the main floor, which features 60-foot ceilings, intricate mosaics, and extensive marble detailing.

According to project details, the food hall will host a variety of culinary offerings, including a main bar, a raw bar, a sushi and crudo kiosk, a bakery, and various pasta and pizza stations. The lower level of the facility is expected to house private dining and event spaces, expanding the venue's utility for the surrounding community.

Constructed in the late 1920s, the Romanesque Revival tower was designated an individual landmark in 1977, with its interior—including the banking hall—receiving landmark status in 1996. The building, which served as Brooklyn’s tallest structure for eight decades, was converted into residential condominiums in 2006.

Casa Tua, a hospitality brand with existing locations in cities such as Miami, Aspen, and Paris, intends for the Brooklyn site to maintain the intimate atmosphere associated with its brand. Miky Grendene, co-founder of Casa Tua, noted in a previous statement that the expansion is intended to be deliberate, emphasizing a commitment to the historic setting of the tower.

While the space has remained empty for years—having previously hosted the Brooklyn Flea—the new development is currently projected to open its doors to the public in 2027.