Wonder is revolutionizing more than just food in New York City.
Since its launch last yearThe food delivery and take-out company has repurposed 19 vacant storefronts in Manhattan, Queens and Brooklyn. And Wonder, which has locations in the ‘burbs as well as New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Connecticut, plans to have 95 outposts by the end of next year.
The brand features dishes from 30 notable eateries and chefs in one place – like Fred Meats & Bread from Atlanta and Michelin Guide-listed Tea Water, founded in Asheville, NC, and big-name Restaurant concepts like Bobby Flay Steak and Jota by Jose Andres.
Wonder Business – Whose value is estimated to be around 5 billion dollars – based partly on the idea that no one city block can sustain multiple chains, but can support a single location that serves multiple cuisines.
“Within New York, our locations have previously been banks, clothing stores and pharmacies as well as new buildings. When searching for new storefronts our focus is on finding the best locations with fewer limitations that restaurants typically experience,” said Mark Lore, founder, president and CEO of Wonder.
“Our unique all-electric kitchen design eliminates the typical need for hoods, gas and open flames, making our real estate process – from site selection to buildout – significantly faster and more agile, enabling better kitchens throughout New York. Our city has developed rapidly.”
Unlike traditional restaurants, Wonder’s kitchen does not require a gas-powered stove or exhaust system, instead relying on only three pieces of electrical equipment: a hot water bath, a quick-cook oven, and a fryer. .
This streamlined setup not only allows for a variety of food preparation in a small space, but it also makes the brand more suited to different types of vacant real estate.
And while most locations have a handful of tables for customers, the focus is on delivery and takeout – in fact, Wonder even has its own app and delivery driver, meaning food can be delivered quickly and efficiently. . Delivery is still available through third-party companies like Uber Eats, though it’s much easier to order from multiple restaurants at once through Wonder’s own app.
In April, Wonder acquired NYC-based bike-delivery company Relay.
“Wonder owns all aspects of our delivery process. This allows us to deliver hot, fresh food from over 30 different restaurants to a single customer order,” Lore said. “Not only are we able to efficiently schedule orders and courier arrival times, but we are also able to keep the delivery radius tight… and customers get seamless order tracking and receive their food within 35 minutes of ordering. “
While Wonder is a delivery and pickup company, Lore told The Post he runs it like one of the e-commerce giants he owns. He started Jet.com and Diapers.com and recently ran Walmart.com, and he believes that a food delivery business can be run just as efficiently as any other online operation.
this is part of the story NYNext, a new editorial series Which highlights New York City’s innovations as well as leading figures across a variety of industries.
The brand’s rapid expansion is not only changing the city’s restaurant landscape — with locations from the Upper West Side to Williamsburg, Astoria and, soon, Flatbush — but also reviving commercial spaces that have struggled since the pandemic. Are doing.
With its ability to adapt to different locations and its ambitious expansion plans, Wonder is poised to become a major player in the city’s food landscape while helping address the issue of empty storefronts in the post-pandemic era.
