Eataly Interior. Photo by Kevin Marple.

 

 

CAN YOU SHARE THE HISTORY AND CONCEPT BEHIND EATALY?

Eataly was founded in 2007 in Torino, Italy by my father, Oscar Farinetti. The concept behind Eataly is to gather high-quality food from all across Italy under a single roof in an informal, natural environment where customers can eat, shop, and learn. When the first Eataly opened, it was the only multifunctional marketplace dedicated to Italian excellence in the world, and now we have more than 40 locations around the world.

Similar to NorthPark Center, Eataly is a family business. Your father, Oscar Farinetti, founded Eataly in 2007. When did you become involved, and what is it like sharing this experience with your father?

I’ve been involved from the very beginning alongside my father. In the beginning, I managed our Bologna store, but I took a major leadership position when I led the charge to open Eataly’s first store in the United States, our NYC Flatiron flagship store.

Sharing a professional experience with one’s own father is something that creates a new balance in the relationship without necessarily calling your roles into question. It’s a powerful emotional experience. From my father Oscar, a brave entrepreneur, I learned to dive headfirst into any challenge as well as the importance of creativity: the strike that gets you an unexpected goal in any game.

Italy is known for its rich food and wine culture across its 20 regions. How do you decide which products to offer in Eataly Mercato and Eataly Vino?

The first point of our manifesto is: “we’re in love with food.” Our stores only carry the highest quality products, and that goes all the way to the stories behind the producers and the land. To bring a new product to our shelves, we must have a deep understanding of its roots, where it came from and who is behind it. That means sourcing trips to the best small-batch producers in Italy. We find the farms that don’t sell to any other stores because they know that we care about quality just as much as they do. And that goes for local producers too.

Is there a particular region in Italy that you’re most inspired by?

All 20 regions are important to Eataly, because of their traditions and cultural stories that are passed into food and dishes. If I had to choose, I’d say that I’m particularly attached to ingredients and wine of Piedmont, because I was born in this region. I have a lot of fond memories of sharing plates like tajarin (a delicate fresh egg pasta) around the table with my family. During the holidays, we celebrate with local specialties like a bottle of Barolo or Agnolotti del Plin. Every region has its standout ingredients, but these ones will always be close to my heart because they remind me of home.

What made you decide to bring the Eataly concept to North America?

We wanted to bring the stories of our Italian producers and products to the U.S. in addition to telling the stories of local American producers that deserve to be celebrated. As we say, there is no such thing as “Italian food” and our selection really showcases that fact – every region has its unique own traditions, ingredients, and recipes. Just as we highlight the beauty of Italian biodiversity, we wanted to do the same for our local producers as well, celebrating the farmers, purveyors, and producers that work in ways that are good for both the consumer and the planet. This means small-batch, intentional and responsible practices, and even old world traditions that are similar to the way our Italian producers work.

Why did you choose Dallas and NorthPark specifically for your first Texas location?

Dallas is one of the top ten largest cities in the United States and has seen tremendous growth as a business, culture, and food hub over the last few years. Especially given the recent boom of its thriving food and arts scene, it seemed only fitting that we bring Eataly to Dallas. We are so thrilled that we were able to find a home at NorthPark. Since its inception, NorthPark has been an example of bringing art and commerce together. Patrons can expect a place like Eataly within NorthPark Center because that’s what we are about – bringing culture and commerce together. We did a lot of searching for our Dallas home, and NorthPark is the perfect fit.

What makes Eataly Dallas’s design concept unique from other locations?

Eataly Dallas is the first Eataly to feature one long takeaway counter, as opposed to multiple to-go stations. What we callLa Panetteria, our bakery, is really nine different dining options – freshly baked bread, Pizza alla Pala, Piatti, Panini, La Pasticceria, coffee, handmade cannoli, and artisan gelato. In the past year, we also adjusted some of our offerings to bring more attention to our Made in Eataly section, a convenient way to bring what’s made in-house at Eataly to your home and enjoy it in no time. Customers can shop some of our most classic dishes, like Lasagna alla Bolognese and Tiramisù della Nonna, in convenient containers to bring home. This is a new concept across all Eataly locations, and we decided to roll out this full product offer upon opening Eataly Dallas, and make it a center point of the store.

What products or menu items can only be found at Eataly Dallas?

Every Eataly has a wide range of unique offerings depending on the location and customers’ interests. In Dallas, we had to make sure our butcher selection was up to Texas expectations, so we offer cuts like whole brisket from Diamond Creek Ranch in Kansas, which we know Dallas buyers have appreciated. We also try to support local businesses as much as possible, so customers can shop local products like local Texas honey or Italian coffee made by Palmieri Cafe, a local coffee business here in Dallas. We really want to be part of the community, and that means supporting local enterprises as well as Italian small-batch producers.

Each Eataly location is dedicated to a unique theme. How did your team decide on the Patronage of the Arts, and how will you be highlighting this theme within the store?

Each location’s theme is related to its surroundings. Being in NorthPark and in Dallas, with its thriving art scene, the Patronage of the Arts was a natural fit. We wanted to highlight the modern, cultural city that we are now part of. Dallas is an incredibly vibrant, artistic city that fits perfectly with the “art” that we offer in our store – food and drink – and in turn, we fit perfectly in our NorthPark Center location. We are highlighting this theme in multiple ways: first, through the Masterpieces of Eataly, which are the highest expression of our producers, the best works of art that you’ll find in our store. We are also partnering with NorthPark to bring in local artists of all media into our store to discuss their work. Our guests will be exposed to these artists and their work while they enjoy the food and drink we have to offer. Lastly, when we open Caffè Lavazza, our first-floor caffè, we are excited to feature an art installation by an incredible local artist, along with more works around the caffè that will highlight local artistry.