All-in-One Stop: NYC’s Limelight Marketplace

After years as a church and a nightclub, this Chelsea building is now Limelight Marketplace, home to shops and food purveyors.

As we stood outside Manhattan’s Limelight Marketplace, waiting behind a velvet rope to enter the grand-opening party for a sneak peek at the newly created shopping space, it was easy to recall the deconsecrated church’s previous incarnation as a notorious night spot in the ’80s.

Upon entering, however, any traces of its legendary, often seedy club past had disappeared and been replaced with three levels of glossy kiosks selling fancy food items, cosmetics, soaps, home items and clothing.

We were handed a glass of Champagne and started our tour on the first floor, home to LeSportsac travel totes and accessories, an array of goods from Thérapie New York, Tee Time’s trendy T-shirts and Soapology, which has a few sinks in its alcove. The first New York City location of Hunter Boots, famous for its rainproof Wellies, is here, next to another brand known for a different type of footwear — Havaianas, the Brazilian company that is the name in flip-flops. Other shops on the first floor include Jezalin’s gift baskets, Alexander West menswear, Silly Souls baby clothes and shoes, BookSmart for children, Selima Optique and Olatz linens, towels, pajamas and bathrobes.

We turned the corner and discovered brownies from Mari’s New York, which offers an array of flavors, including classic, caramel sea salt, Thai coffee and chipotle-infused Heat. Butterfly Bakeshop provided a generous sample of possibly the best cake we’ve ever tasted — with guava and dulce de leche filling. Other sweet treats include MarieBelle Express chocolates, The Little Candy Cake Company, WannaHavaCookie, Baci Gelato, IT’SUGAR candies, Jala yogurt and ice cream and CupcakeStop.

The big food news is that Grimaldi’s Pizzeria — so famous for its coal brick-oven pizzas that tourist boats deposit large groups at the location near the Brooklyn Bridge — is opening its first Manhattan location in June and will sell pizza by the slice 24/7 through a walk-up window. Another restaurant is slated to open at some point this summer; other edibles include Peak Season Green Market, Carter & Cavero olive oils, organic offerings from Miss Tea and Petrossian caviar and gourmet foods. A charcuterie area sells meats and cheeses — a sample station provided a small taste, topped with fig marmalade.

We regretted throwing out our napkin before sampling marmalade on level two, where someone at Om Aroma & Co. then put Crème Eclat onto our somewhat sticky hand. Last year, we told you about the organic skin-care line made with natural ingredients that smell fresh and clean. More delectable scents could be found at Caswell-Massey, purveyors of luxury soaps, lotions, gels and fragrances made with natural ingredients, such as the Ocean hand lotion and Rosemary & Tarragon Bath Soap. Several party attendees were trying out nature-inspired beauty products by Sue Devitt, makeup artist to such celebs as Diane Lane, Jennifer Lopez, Sarah Jessica Parker, Rebecca Romijn and Christy Turlington, to name a few.

Silver and white shiny wallpaper accompanied us down a short hallway to Brocade Home, where sleek modern designs — often in basic black and white — meet classic silhouettes in little room vignettes. This floor also includes jewelry from Tina Tang and Facets, and a wall of interesting accessories from Old Hollywood. Though CANA Wine Bar (perhaps the Biblical name is a nod to the space’s history as a church?) isn’t slated to open until June, a Champagne station was set up, where Heatherette designer and former club kid Richie Rich posed for a few photographs. The bar will have 20 wines by the glass and a small plates menu designed by chef Nicola Maurello. Also on the second level: women’s fashions from Lulu, Sophie & Teddy’s Doggie Delight, Barbra Scott Flowers, Cosmé Proud beauty products and The Avery Perfumes.

Finding the correct set of stairs to reach some of the spaces on the third level was a bit tricky — although not nearly as bad as when it was a dark, riotous club. Now, the raciest things up there are the pin-up chocolate bar labels at the MarieBelle Cacao Bar & Café, where tables provide a place to sit down and indulge in chocolate treats. J. Sisters offers a variety of salon services, including hair, makeup, manicures, pedicures, waxing and threading. The Zakka space has a variety of collectible and zany toys, such as the Ugly Doll, as well as graphic art books. Jon Wye specializes in leather belts, tees for men and women, wrist cuffs and dog collars. On our way out we spotted Jill Zarin of The Real Housewives of New York City, chatting with some party guests, though the New York Post alleges she later devoted herself to seeking out freebies.

While Limelight has an array of interesting shops, we’re wondering how crowds are going to navigate some of the smaller spaces. Do you like the idea of a wide range of small kiosks or do you prefer large, stand-alone shops?

Tags: Alexander West, Asterisk, beauty products, Brooklyn Bridge, Chef, Chelsea building, Chocolate, Christy Turlington, Cookie, designer, Desserts, Diane Lane, fancy food items, food, Food and drink, food news, food purveyors, Havaianas, Hospitality/Recreation, Hunter, Ice cream, Interactive kiosk, Jennifer Lopez, Jill Zarin, Jon Wye, LeSportsac, makeup artist, MarieBelle Cacao Bar, nature-inspired beauty products, New York City, NEWS CORPORATION, Nicola Maurello, Olatz, Om Aroma & Co., Rebecca Romijn, Richie Rich, salon services, Sarah Jessica Parker, Selima Optique, Snack foods, Sue Devitt, The Little Candy Cake Company, the New York Post, The Real Housewives of New York City, Though CANA Wine Bar, Tina Tang, Wine