After years of anticipation, the 18,000-square-foot Track 15 food hall opened inside the former Union Station in downtown Providence on Tuesday.
From seafood fare to Mexican cuisine, Track 15 brings together seven local vendors serving a variety of food options. Each vendor has their own station in a central dining area, allowing diners to purchase meals from any restaurant and eat in a common space.
“We wanted to do something that would create a spark of energy,” said Christopher Marsella, president of the Marsella Development Corporation.
The primary motivation for the project was a desire to draw people into downtown Providence and revitalize the area, according to Marsella, whose family has been involved with the development of Providence for the last 50 years.
Union Station, which opened in 1847, closed after the decline of the rail industry in the 1980s. The original station operated with 14 rail lines, with Track 15 symbolizing the 15th railway.
In an email to The Herald, City of Providence Deputy Press Secretary Samara Pinto wrote that “Track 15 will be an exciting addition to downtown Providence.”
“This project will strengthen Downtown as a hub for dining, culture and economic activity,” she added.
Several Rhode Island political figures attended Track 15’s opening, including Rhode Island’s entire congressional delegation, Gov. Dan McKee and Mayor Brett Smiley. In a short speech, McKee thanked Marsella for providing “good-paying jobs” to the Providence community and bringing people together through food.
The food hall has undergone a yearslong development process, facing numerous delays due to supply chain issues.
“We know we’re in a historic building,” Marsella said. He explained that the design process emphasized the building’s historic features through the selection of materials, equipment and lighting.
“We wanted to ensure it looked and felt like it was always there,” Marsella added.
Marsella also said that he and his team wanted to “make sure people from all backgrounds feel comfortable walking through the door.” When selecting the vendors for Track 15, he aimed to bring together a diverse group of local talent in the culinary industry.
Rhode Island business owner Sanjiv Dhar, whose restaurant Little Chaska just opened up in Track 15, said he looks forward to bringing Indian cuisine to more people. Dhar also owns Kabob and Curry on Thayer Street and several other Rhode Island restaurants.
“As people get used to enjoying Indian food, they also get to enjoy our culture,” he added.
Married couple Alp Gumuscu and Tarci-Lee Galarza, co-owners of Tolia, are similarly excited about sharing Turkish cuisine with Track 15 visitors. In an interview with The Herald, Galarza said she eagerly anticipates introducing the Providence community to new flavors.
Highlighting how the food hall fosters collaboration among vendors, Gumuscu said that “in this kind of environment, everybody became part of the team. We are all together in this journey.”
The opening ceremony drew a crowd of locals interested in the food hall, including Providence residents Louis Morales and Katrina Juganas.
“It’s something we needed,” said Morales, who looks forward to bringing friends and visiting family members to a new dining spot.
“I think we’re going to love this place,” Juganas added.
Located at 1 Union Station, Track 15 is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
