A LANDMARK
IN THE MAKING

The Square | Coming Summer 2023

What do 15 of DC’s best chefs have in common? A food market you never saw coming. The Square, arriving this summer at 19th and K.

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  • What’s New at The Square?

    DC’s Freshest Food Market Is Taking Shape

    The walls are down and the stalls are up as the construction crews progress toward this summer’s soft opening of The Square — a landmark cultural destination opening soon to the stunning glass atrium in K Street’s International Square building. With chefs perfecting their concepts and the central kitchen near completion, flavor-seekers in the District can start working up their appetites.

Chef-Driven —
From the Top Down

Chefs Richie Brandenburg and Rubén García bring a lifetime of experience in the world’s most loved kitchens to DC’s newest culinary landmark, The Square.

Richie Brandenburg

From Richmond to New Orleans, London to San Francisco, and back east to DC, Richie Brandenburg’s career has carried him (and his lifelong love for French cuisine) to kitchens across the globe. After three years as kitchen director for José Andrés’s ThinkFoodGroup — where he met chef Rubén García — Richie used his culinary expertise and industry acumen to curate DC’s Union Market. Today, he’s joined Rubén as co-founder at Unfold Hospitality, the team behind The Square, the newest landmark in DC’s thriving culinary scene.

Rubén García

From his childhood kitchen in Catalonia to his training at the renowned Joviat culinary school, Rubén García’s early years propelled him into roles at some of Spain’s most celebrated restaurants including El Bulli. In 2003, he arrived in DC to join the leadership team at José Andrés ThinkFoodGroup, eventually helping to open restaurants nationwide, including DC’s minibar, NYC’s Mercado Little Spain, and LA’s The Bazaar. Today, Rubén and business partner Richie Brandenburg run Unfold Hospitality, the team behind DC’s newest culinary destination, The Square.

“Nothing beats the culinary scene in DC. This city made us who we are. With The Square, we’re ready to say Thank you.”

–Chef Rubén García

A new home for DC’s makers and tasters.

Meet the dream team behind your favorite flavors.