Alison Roman Brings First Bloom To Brooklyn

BROOKLYN, NY— Cookbook author and food personality Alison Roman plans to open a permanent New York City location of her boutique grocery and cafe, First Bloom, in Brooklyn Heights this fall.

“At long last, I no longer feel like I’m going to jinx anything if I tell you that come fall of this year, First Bloom will become a permanent resident of The Big Apple,” Roman wrote in her newsletter.

Roman did not disclose the address or opening date.

Job postings for the project, however, revealed several details about the expansion.

Listings for a general manager, head chef and head baker/pastry chef described the new location as “bigger and more ambitious” than the original Catskills shop.

“There will be a nice coffee program, a small cafe with fabulous prepared foods, and a retail floor with spectacular produce," the postings read.

Neighborhood speculation has centered on 144 Montague St., a below-street-level storefront formerly occupied by Bentley’s Shoes, which closed last summer after 43 years in business.

Roman did not confirm the address by publication time.

First Bloom debuted in the Catskills before Roman opened a temporary Lower East Side pop-up last November.

The job listings described the food as “seasonal home cooking that’s better than the food you make at home. Nothing fussy or overcomplicated — the best versions of the simplest thing.”

Roman, whose audience spans Instagram, YouTube and podcast listeners, also signaled she does not want the business driven by social media trends.

“Having something everyone comes in for is important, but should never be gimmicky,” the posting read. “We’re catering to a neighborhood of real people, not the internet.”

Roman did clarify one menu item customers should not expect.

“We will not have a Caesar salad.”