Photo of the line to get into Smorgasburg Central Park courtesy of NYCFoodPhoto
The food festival in Central Park Friday night organized by Brooklyn group Smorgasburg was such a mess that the organizers have made a public apology.
We heard from several attendees that the festival, held at Rumsey Playfield near 72nd street, would not let anyone in after about 6:45 p.m. — despite advertising the event as lasting from 5 to 9 — because the event was filled to capacity. People waiting in line were not even allowed to go in after other people exited, they said. On twitter, it was being called a “fiasco.” One attendee told us:
“We sat there for 1.5 hrs bc we couldn’t believe they weren’t gonna let anyone in. THOUSANDS of potential customers with $$$$$$$ and they were ALL FURIOUS. They all permanently blew a potentially lucrative thing bc these potential loyal customers with their $$$$ vowed to NEVER return to any Smorg events.”
One reader who did make it inside told us that the vendors had plenty of food but not enough customers because the organizers were turning everyone away:
“They didn’t run out of food because we were inside speaking with the vendors while our friends got shut out. The vendors were really disappointed bc they were waiting for customers after so many people had exited. But they absolutely refused to let in anyone else less than two hours after the event began. Many of the vendors told us they had feared that setting this up in such a small area would result in a disaster. We constantly have street fairs, closing down stretches of blocks and causing gridlock, so that irregular tube socks can be sold. But when something worthwhile is offered, it’s set up in a tiny area within a massive park. I vote for bringing the irregular tube sock vendors to Rumsey!”
The photo below was taken by one attendee who ended up leaving because the line was too long:
The organizers, who have discussed holding the event regularly next year, released the following apology:
“Public Apology: To everyone who attended our Central Park event last night, we are deeply sorry for how it turned out, and for the inconvenience it caused so many people. This was a smaller event (in terms of both vendors and square footage) than the weekly markets in Brooklyn. Despite not being heavily marketed, the event ended up attracting many thousands of people, far beyond our expectations. We reached capacity at the venue by 6pm—far quicker than expected—and it became clear that the thousands more waiting on line at that time were not going to get in. The only responsible decision, which we arrived at with SummerStage and the Police Department, was to disperse the crowd by being honest that entry just wasn’t going to be possible last night. We feel terrible that this event didn’t live up to the high standards we strive for with everything we do. This was a new type of event for us and SummerStage, and although we planned it very carefully in advance, the response simply exceeded anyone’s expectations. Please accept our sincere apology, and know that we’ll make sure everyone who wants to can enjoy our events in the future. Thank you.”
Of course, the problems were caused by a good thing: people obviously really want this food festival! So how about moving it to a bigger venue next time, or finding some better form of crowd control? Let’s hope these mistakes don’t lead the organizers to stay away.
We were there at 5:30 and got in no problem. The lines were really long for most of the food and drinks as well. We left around 8p and had no issues. Though would definitely recommend a much bigger space if they try it again. Too many lines overlapped and it turned into a few minutes before you realized you were on the wrong line.
It’s such a shame that hundreds of hungry, and potetially ravished people were starnded in the middle of New York City with all those $$$$ to spend and noone on the entire island would help them spend it. There they were, stranded in the middle of this desolate island with nowhere else to go, and loads of $$$ in their bulging designer purses and cargo pants pockets. It was also probably too late for them to book a flight to Cincinatti or hop a bus to Albany or Atlantic City where there are so many more dining and entertainment optons available than in this borng city, and for many fewer $$$$. Maybe had they campoed out the week before lke all those people buying the new iPhone their entire evening would not have been ruined.
Well your comment made me smile. Are u sure you’re American, because you have an English sense of sarcasm. Well done 🙂
On the other hand, not sure it is a good thing to use public park space for a commercial event especially an event with a lot of garbage (and especially as with Smorgasburg, easy enough to get to Brooklyn for “real” thing.)
There was a increase in commercial events in parks under Bloomberg Administration. Would like to see re-review of this policy.
It’s really a shame, the entire park has become a commercial site of wall-to-wall vendors. The Mall is aptly named. When was the last time you heard a bird sing in the park? It sure is no refuge any more.
Use of public, tax-payer-funded space and resources for the benefit of private interests is pretty-much ubiquitous in our society and by no means limited to parks. The garbage generated that you mentioned was almost certainly cleaned-up by public, taxpayer-funded employees.
Just another example of the “good” kind of redistribution of wealth– from the taxpayer (overwhelmingly low or middle income) to corporations and other wealthy private interests.
That kid in the green sweatshirt looks so cute. (A little like Owen Kline when he was younger)
Are there any better photos of him?
I recall reading last year about complaints last year from the same event in Bklyn.
Sounds like these folks do NOT know how to put on a massive public event and therefore should not be given permits from the City in the future.
They can hold it on private property.
my two cents.
Wow – can these vendors start cooking for Tavern on the Green?
NYC is so full of looser sheeps. nauseating to think that thousand of people would wait in line for hours. sickening. I can’t imagine our forefathers being this stupid.
“NYC is so full of looser sheeps.
Are the sheep really tighter elsewhere?
Why is it so common for people to use loose when they mean lose and looser when they mean loser? I mean how hard is this??? Sorry… huge pet peeve of mine so I had to comment. Carry on.
Why would any really hungry person expect to get food from a Brooklyn establishment. The restaurants by and large do not take reservations.
Actually the idea of breadlines for the affluent, strikes me as a bit of a joke.
We arrived early and had a great experience, the food vendors were absolutely great. Upon leaving and seeing the line, we knew this wouldn’t end well. SummerStage doesn’t allow exit through the west end of Rumsey, which prevents throughput and creates the capacity issue. There is no “plan B” if an event is oversubscribed. I hope Smorgasburg takes notes and locates a more suitable venue next time. It proves that you can fail by being too successful.