Founded in 2015, Local Culture Management has played a pivotal role in overseeing the development of iconic projects like Dekalb Market Hall and The Hugh.
From construction and licensing to daily operations, we’ve established ourselves as leaders in creating vibrant food and beverage destinations in even the most challenging spaces.
Our expertise lies in transforming complex, underutilized areas—like basements, retail corridors, and locations with no street presence—into thriving food halls. At DMH, we successfully revitalized the former food court of the landmark City Point Tower, turning it into a bustling hub of culinary excellence.
Following the success of DMH, we’ve been entrusted with consulting on a variety of other high-profile projects. Our services extend to developers, the hospitality industry, and food hall operators. We offer competitive analysis, viability studies, construction cost assessments, and long-term development strategies aimed at delivering cash-positive, legacy-building projects for our clients.
We understand that creating a successful food hall requires more than just crunching numbers. It’s about identifying the specific needs of the customers who will make it thrive. Our design and operational vision are shaped by these insights, ensuring that each project is a reflection of the community it serves.
At Local Culture, we combine creative vision with practical execution, taking on the complexities of food hall development to deliver spaces that leave a lasting impact.
ABOUT US
Team
Founder
With over 20 years in the hospitality industry, Anna’s attention to detail, deep understanding of different markets and communities, and evolving network of hospitality veterans and culinary leaders, has helped position Local Culture as the go-to agency for transforming underutilized spaces.
Even before founding Local Culture, Anna had deep roots in New York City’s food scene. Over two decades ago, Castellani saw a need within Brooklyn for a community gathering space and opened The Dumbo General Store— selling everything from food to art supplies. There she built strong vendor relationships and continued to identify needs within the New York market. Five years later Castalleni would open Foragers Market to address the lack of high-quality natural food offerings. Her vision for a local quality-forward grocery store that highlighted local upstate farmers quickly grew into a vast network of small businesses and farms championing healthy eating through high-quality produce.
Recognized for her continued entrepreneurial spirit, deep knowledge of downtown Brooklyn, and network within the culinary industry, Anna was approached by Washington Square Partners to oversee design, construction, licensing, and vendor curation for what is now known as DeKalb Market Hall. The success of DeKalb MarketHall led to the emergence of Local Culture and opportunities to consult on, build, and operate various food halls.
Anna Castellani
Chief Operating Officer
Gary’s understanding of numbers and systems provides organization and accountability in a chaotic industry. His expertise can be traced back to 17 years on Wall Street. Before joining Local Culture Management, Gary was the Managing Director of Rosenblatt Securities, the institutional brokerage firm with the largest New York Stock Exchange floor presence. During his tenure at Rosenblatt Securities, Gary created and built out the firm’s institutional Derivatives desk building a team under him and developing a track record of consistently performing under pressure.
Wishnow joined Local Culture in 2016 to build and scale Dekalb Market Hall. His prior expertise in overseeing financial projects, reporting, and controls allowed for a seamless transition into his new role as Chief Operating Officer. Gary oversaw DeKalb Market Hall’s entire construction, leasing strategy, and entire management of its daily operations.
From conception to the internationally-known culinary destination it is known as today, Wishnow has been integral in Dekalb Market Hall’s success. His time is now spent curating various budgeting and leasing strategies, managing relationships with Local Culture’s development partners, and overseeing operations for Dekalb MarketHall and The Hugh.