Eataly expanding its retail footprint

A wildly popular Italian-themed marketplace that combines retail and dining experiences is headed to Silicon Valley.

Eataly will open a three-story, 51,000-sq.ft location at Westfield Valley Fair in San Jose, Calif., in 2021. Similar to other Eataly outposts, the Silicon Valley emporium will feature cafes, restaurants, bars, grocery offerings, educational experiences and more. To date, the company has opened six marketplaces in the U.S., with a seventh due to open in Dallas in 2020. The company also has a location in Toronto. 

The new Eataly is part of Westfield’s $1.1 billion overhaul of the Valley Fair Mall, which will be completed by 2021.

“We are excited to bring Eataly to one of the most important economic regions of the world in 2021," said Nicola Farinetti, CEO Eataly USA, the American branch of the Italian-based retailer. "Eataly Silicon Valley will expose the Bay Area to the highest-quality authentic Italian food, products, wine and culture through all our offerings. At Eataly, we encourage our customers to shop what they eat and eat what they shop – it is the best way to immerse yourself in our 'Eat, Shop, Learn' philosophy. At Eataly Silicon Valley, we will import many of our products from Italy – like olive oil and dry pasta – while also making it a priority to work with local producers from Northern California.”

The new Silicon Valley location is part of Eataly’s aggressive growth strategy. Eataly opened its first location in 2007, in Turin, Italy. It has since expanded to 40 locations across 11 countries, with plans to open in London and Brussels next year. Eataly entered the U.S. in 2010, with a location in Manhattan’s Flatiron District.