James Beard Award Winner and Iron Chef Jose Garces announced the grand opening of Garces Trading Company at Kimmel, located inside the Kimmel Center at 300 S. Broad Street. The reinvented concept is back in an all-new way as a collection of casual cafes that are part coffee shop, restaurant, bakery, marketplace and corporate catering solution. For the new location on the Kimmel Cultural Campus, patrons will find an exclusive coffee roast that pays tribute to superstar conductor Yannick Nezet-Seguin of The Philadelphia Orchestra.
Yannick’s Blend joins new food offerings that will include The Spotlight (Braised Short Rib), The Standing Ovation (Chicken Pot Pie) and The Bravo (Country Ham, Amish Butter, Baguette). For aesthetics, Chef has tapped Architect Kieran Timberlake and Marguerite Rodgers Interior Design to create one of the most visually stunning coffee shops and cafes in Center City. The café’s addition continues the transformation of the Kimmel Center’s Commonwealth Plaza into a vibrant all-day gathering space that will welcome the public throughout the day into the evening, while also accommodating pre- and post- event crowds.
The cafe breaks through the exterior wall adjacent to Spruce Street and is situated in the highly trafficked area that formerly housed the box office- which has been moved to the lower level. Adding another entrance to the overall building, Garces Trading Company opens inside directly from the Plaza and outside from Spruce Street. Garces Trading Company at Kimmel is located across the Plaza from sister restaurant Volvér. The new café will grand open on Wednesday, January 18, 2023, at 7:30am with free croissants to the first 150 patrons and visitors until 9:30am, free small coffee giveaway between 10:00am and 10:30am, and a ribbon cutting ceremony and first coffee pour with Chef Jose Garces, superstar conductor of The Philadelphia Orchestra Yannick Nezet-Seguin and President and CEO Matías Tarnopolsky of The Philadelphia Orchestra and Kimmel Center, Inc..
When opened, hours will be seven days a week, from 7:00am to 4:00pm, plus extended hours to 11:00pm when there are performances on campus. For menus and more info, please visit www.garcestradingcompany.com and follow on social media at @GarcesTradingCo. For more about Chef Jose Garces and Garces follow @ChefJoseGarces and @GarcesGroup.
“I’m so incredibly excited to be able to announce that the newest Garces Trading Company is now open for business at the Kimmel Cultural Campus,” said Garces. “Since opening Volvér in 2014, the Kimmel Cultural Campus and the Garces brand have had a special relationship, and I’m so pleased to be able to continue to grow that as we bring Garces Trading Company to campus. This major opening continues our expansion plans into the new year. It also adds another reason to visit the Avenue of the Arts as it goes through a historic transformation with new restaurants, retail and residences.”
Chef added, “Garces Trading Company is really special to me. The concept is centered around an exchange of cultures that neighbors, friends, family members, coworkers and creatives can explore and connect over new dishes and flavors. Garces Trading Company is truly an outpost for foodies that incorporates discovery and connections, and I am excited to bring new life back to the GTC idea in an all-new way. I couldn’t think of a better place to give this idea new life.”
“We bring people together for artistic and cultural experiences, civic and intellectual life, moments of connection, and more,” said The Philadelphia Orchestra and Kimmel Center, Inc. President and CEO Matías Tarnopolsky. “We are delighted to co-host the opening of the new café in the Kimmel Center Plaza, a space for Philadelphians to gather, to enjoy delicious food and drink, and to experience the arts together.”
The new Garces Trading Company is a bistro concept from Latino Chef Jose Garces that builds on the brand’s history, offering casual daytime and early evening dining experiences that extend into the dining room, the home and the office. The new concept aims to create connections through food, discovery and community. The refreshed concept and innovative marketing approach positions Garces Trading Company as both a must-visit dining and shopping experience. Working collaboratively while remaining true to Chef’s vision, Garces Trading Company will be the “go-to” destination for friends to connect, visitors to explore flavors and dishes, and all to discover local artisans and unique wares.
For the new Kimmel location, Garces Trading Company aims to bring arts patrons, foodies, neighbors, tourists, office workers and artists together for early morning coffee and pastry, mid-day lunch and pre- and post-event cocktails, snacks and sweets. The new cafe features 1,700 square feet of space, with seating for 55 guests inside, with additional seating for 20 guests outside during nice weather. The open-kitchen concept also features a full-service made-to-order coffee bar, grab-and-go cases and a specialized marketplace.
For early-morning risers, the smell of the first drops of the new and exclusive Yannick’s Blend will entice those on the Avenue of the Arts inside for coffee, espresso, breakfast tacos, pastries and a full café menu. For neighbors and nearby workers, lunch will feature a selection of handhelds, bowls, salads and savory bites. For pre-theatre and event crowds, Garces Trading Company will offer selections for those coming from work and who want a bite before the show, or for those that want to extend their experience into the evening.
For this unique concept, Chef Jose Garces took inspiration from the original marketplace and wine shop concept that first opened back in 2008 just blocks away in Midtown Village. He reinvented and elevated the brand with expanded offerings from GTC’s virtual return in 2020 as one of Philadelphia’s most ground-breaking ghost kitchens. The series of new brick and mortar cafes now includes Kimmel Cultural Campus and the recently opened CIRA Centre location.
Every aspect is carefully considered to ensure that when each cafe opens its doors, it offers a memorable experience that delivers on the GTC promise. Intentionally crafted dining options set the stage for an equally curated catering model, where everything from the takeout packaging to the conference room catering setup has been designed to create a positive dining experience, even if that experience happens at your desk instead of a dining room. The cafes have a timeless feel that puts the focus on what really matters — the food, drink and community — but which don’t just fade into the background.
Garces Trading Company is an everyday experience, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be exceptional. From the self-evident quality of the ingredients to the carefully curated selection of products to buy, there’s something special about every bite, every moment and every purchase. GTC is elevating the day-to-day without being precious about it. Great coffee without the pretension, great meals served with warmth, not attitude, and an experience that invites guests to relax and trust us to deliver something that’s just a little bit extraordinary.
Built on the idea that every meal should be a great meal, GTC means even a salad grabbed on the run between meetings should be fresh, delicious and made with care and quality ingredients.
Each meal should be built on connections through food. Breaking bread together is only the beginning. GTC is not just creating spaces for people to share a meal or a cup of coffee, the vision is to also build connections between farmers, makers and purveyors with guests, foodies and clients.
The menu is rooted in the welcoming traditions of Chef’s childhood. While GTC dishes take inspiration from around the world, the cafe’s sense of hospitality stems from Jose’s home and hearth. His warmth, sophisticated culinary approach, and commitment to the community are set to shine in every aspect of the Garces Trading Company.
For the menu, look for a strong emphasis for breakfast, lunch and bakery offerings. For the coffee program, GTC will tap Ballard Brands’ own PJ’s Coffee to feature several exclusive GTC signature blends, with additional rotating selections curated by Chef Jose Garces himself. For the bar, each new location for Philadelphia will have a liquor license and offer a full selection of spirits as well as signature cocktails.
Breakfast offerings will feature locally sourced partners, when possible, to promote community connections, and include house-made ensaimadas (Spanish bagels), house-made Spanish pastries, croissants, breakfast sandwiches and tacos, plus yogurts, fruit, quiches, overnight oats and other favorites. Breakfast will be counter service and grab-and-go. Lunch offerings will focus on soups, salads, sandwiches, other handhelds and more.
