(Updated April 2, 2020) | Brooklyn-based vegan cheese shop Riverdel opened its Manhattan location earlier this year at the Essex Street Market. The new New York City location features a large case of vegan cheese which can be ordered by weight.
Riverdel’s new location at the Essex Street Market stocks dairy-free cheese from established brands such as Miyoko’s and Violife, as well as artisan brands including Portland, Oregon’s Vtopian, upstate NY’s Cheezehound, Wendy’s Nutty Cheese, and The Frauxmagerie from Canada.
Vegan sandwiches made with plant-based cheese and deli meat and dessert from local brands are also available.
A Passion for Animals and Cheese
The first Riverdel—located in Brooklyn’s Prospect Heights neighborhood—was founded by entrepreneur Michaela Grob in 2016.
“Three years ago, I quit my job and emptied my savings accounts to open Riverdel because I’m passionate about animals…and cheese,” Grob wrote on Riverdel’s crowdfunding campaign. “Opening the first store has been great. Our amazing team works so hard at bringing delicious vegan food to our neighborhood, and now we’re taking the opportunity to serve an even wider community by opening up a second location at the brand new Essex Market in Manhattan!”
As well as stocking vegan cheese from brands across the country, Riverdel Brooklyn also makes its own house brand and offers a wider selection of sandwiches, meatless meats, and pastries from local bakeries Pisces Rising and Brooklyn Whiskers.
“The world is a tough place, and it’s even tougher for farm animals who are often neglected and abused,” Grob continued.
Vegan in NYC
The new Riverdel shop joins a handful of NYC vegan eateries that have opened since the beginning of the year. The city was named the best place in the country for vegans and vegetarians last October, based on the volume of options in restaurants, grocery stores, meetups, and festivals.
Honeybee’s—a plant-based barbecue owned by restaurateur Ravi DeRossi—opened earlier this month in East Village. Spicy Moon, a vegan Sichuan restaurant, is another newcomer.
Riverdel’s new shop is located at the Essex Street Market at 88 Essex St. in Manhattan.
