Earlier this spring, the Boston Globe reported that Eataly was close to signing a deal at Prudential Center in 2016. Now, according to a release sent from Boston Properties, we’ve confirmed that Mario Batali is indeed opening his 45,000 square foot Italian food emporium inside Back Bay’s Prudential Center. A lease was signed at City Hall last Friday, May 8.

The release states that the multi-level space will include multiple quick and full-service eateries, a café, wine bar, and gourmet marketplace selling handmade pastas, wine and other imported Italian products.

Eataly Boston will be modeled after the original Eataly located in Turin, Italy first created by Oscar Farinetti, and a partnership among the Farinetti family, the B&B Hospitality Group and Adam and Alex Saper. Currently, the Italian emporium operates 27 establishments worldwide with locations in Italy, Japan, Dubai, and Istanbul. Boston will be Eataly’s third U.S. location outside of New York and Chicago.

Bryan Koop, Boston Properties Senior Vice President and Regional Manager, executed the Eataly lease at City Hall on Friday, May 8, 2015. The lease signing was witnessed by John Barros, the City of Boston’s Chief of Economic Development.

According to Boston Properties, construction of Eataly at Prudential Center will commence in June 2015 and is tentatively scheduled to open in late 2016. We’ll be sure to bring you more information when we have it.

Photo Credit: Don Harney, Staff Photographer – City of Boston

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