Coney Island debuted a new attraction on its boardwalk last week — not a roller coaster or arcade game, but a food hall unlike anything the neighborhood has seen before.
Wonder, a fast-growing dining concept that brings a variety of top restaurants under one roof, officially opened its latest location at 1223 Surf Ave. on Aug. 28 with a ribbon-cutting, giveaways and a fireworks show.
The grand opening drew crowds eager to sample dishes from a lineup that includes celebrity chefs Bobby Flay, Marcus Samuelsson, José Andrés and Marc Murphy, along with acclaimed restaurants such as Di Fara Pizza, Tejas Barbecue and Fred’s Meat and Bread. The Coney Island storefront, Wonder’s 59th overall and seventh in Brooklyn, offers more than 20 restaurants in one space.
Unlike a traditional food hall, Wonder lets customers combine dishes from multiple menus into a single order. The company says its mission is to make “elevated and curated dining” more accessible, with every item prepared to order and available for pickup, dine-in or 30-minute delivery.
Festivities began with a 4:30 p.m. ribbon-cutting that led into a 5 p.m. grand opening. The first 100 customers received branded gifts, while the first 50 also got giveaways from the Brooklyn Cyclones. Outside, a pop-up on the boardwalk featured games, prizes and food samples before the summer’s final fireworks show.
Wonder’s model has been expanding rapidly across the region, with 58 other locations already operating in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and beyond. The Coney Island opening extends its Brooklyn footprint to neighborhoods including Park Slope, Williamsburg and Bay Ridge.
Wonder Coney Island is open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., giving locals and visitors plenty of time to try a bit of everything.
