Glendale Galleria’s open-air food park slated to open this fall
An open-air food court outside of the Glendale Galleria — featuring food trucks and shipping containers — is expected to open this November.
Last week, the Glendale City Council approved a revised design for the 2,000-square-foot contemporary Urban Space Food Park planned for 145 S. Central Ave., facing the Americana at Brand.
It’s a joint project between the Galleria and developer Urban Space, which has spearheaded similar concepts across the country.
The approved design features an earth-tone color palette, as well as more greenery and wood accents than a design that was rejected by council members in December for being too loud for the surrounding environment.
“[This design] is really trying to create that softer appearance, something that speaks to the landscape around, but still has a modern, urban feel to it,” said Bradley Calvert, Glendale’s assistant director of community development, during a special afternoon meeting held on Jan. 14.
The colors, which include a naturalistic red, orange and tan, make reference to the mall’s brick facade, he added.
An illuminated sign and other lighting accents are meant to offer an evening experience that differs from the daytime experience, according to Michael McGrath, chief operating officer of Urban Space.
According to McGrath, the goal of Urban Space is to develop small — and potentially local — businesses.
“How we do that is creating these opportunities in cities and in parts of communities where they might not be able to [have those opportunities],” McGrath said at the meeting last week.
Glendale City Councilman Frank Quintero said he was excited for the project to move to the next phase.
“It’s basically a drive-through street at this point, and hopefully it’ll get a little more pedestrian-friendly,” said Quintero, referring to the stretch of Central where the food park will soon be constructed.
Councilman Vartan Gharpetian, who had previously questioned the merits of the project, was not present at the most recent meeting.
The food park is slated to feature five permanent food trucks and 10 prefabricated shipping containers.