Long Island City food hall gets new liquor licence as it rebrands as Mettra

Overview

Updated 2 hours ago

New York state liquor records show a restaurant licence issued October 29 to LIC Food Court at 28-07 Jackson Avenue in Long Island City. The state dataset also lists an earlier licence at the same address, under the name Tsce 2007 Jacx Fh, that expired January 31.

The address is the large food hall that opened in 2020 as JACX&CO and has since come under new management, rebranding as Mettra, with a grand opening celebration set for October 29–30. The licence is a new record for an existing business; the filing does not show what other approvals the hall holds or its operating status.

Why it matters

State records show a new liquor licence for Long Island City's rebranded Jackson Avenue food hall; an earlier licence at the address expired in January.

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Key Indicators

271 days

Days between licence lapse and new licence

Prior licence at 28-07 Jackson Avenue expired January 31; new restaurant licence issued October 29, 2026.

Liquor licence records at this address in state data

The expired JACX-era licence and the new LIC Food Court licence.

Eateries at the hall's 2020 opening

Vendor lineup when the hall launched as JACX&CO, per 2020 reports.

Voices

Curated perspectives — historical figures and your fellow readers.

People Involved

Daniel Cabrera

General manager of JACX&CO at the hall's 2020 launch

Former general manager; the hall is now under new management

Organizations Involved

New York State Liquor Authority

State regulatory agency

Issued the LIC Food Court restaurant licence on October 29, 2026

The New York State Liquor Authority licenses and regulates the sale of alcohol across New York.

Tishman Speyer

Real estate developer

Developer and owner of The Jacx and the JACX&CO food hall

Real estate developer behind The Jacx, a two-tower office complex in Long Island City, and the food hall at its base.

Mettra

Food hall operator

Current operator of the Jackson Avenue food hall, formerly JACX&CO

Operator of the Long Island City food hall at Jackson Avenue that launched as JACX&CO and rebranded under new management in 2026.

Timeline

2020 October 2026

4 events Latest: Yesterday

Tap a bar to jump to that date

October 2026
State issues new liquor licence to LIC Food Court
Latest Regulatory

The State Liquor Authority issues a restaurant licence to LIC Food Court at 28-07 Jackson Avenue.
Yesterday
Mettra stages rebrand grand opening
Business

The rebranded hall holds a two-day celebration with a ribbon-cutting, DJ sets, and a tasting passport.
Yesterday
January 2026
Prior liquor licence at the address expires
Regulatory

State data lists the licence held by Tsce 2007 Jacx Fh as expired on this date.
January 31st, 2026
2020
JACX&CO food hall opens at The Jacx
Opening

The nine-vendor hall, developed by Tishman Speyer, launches amid pandemic indoor-dining limits.
2020

Scenarios

New licence holds as Mettra pours at the bar

Likely Resolves by Apr 30, 2027

Discussed by: No major outlet has covered this; the scenario tracks the licence's status in state data

If Mettra keeps the hall running with alcohol service, the licence issued October 29 remains active in state records. Continued bar operations and any renewal filings would confirm the licence is in use.

Licence lapses a second time

Unlikely Resolves by Oct 29, 2027

Discussed by: Counterfactual scenario; no analyst predicts this

The new licence could go unused and lapse, as the previous one did in January. If the rebranded hall's bar does not operate or the operator abandons the space, state records would eventually show the licence expired.

Historical Context

One moment from history that rhymes with this story — and how it unfolded.

2020

JACX&CO opens during COVID (2020)

Tishman Speyer opened the 11,000-square-foot food hall at the base of The Jacx with nine vendors, including chef JJ Johnson's Fieldtrip, Taïm, Crif Dogs, and a first solo venture from pastry chef Ghaya Oliveira. State pandemic rules capped indoor dining at 25%.

Then

The hall leaned on takeout, delivery, and office lunch crowds from tenants like Macy's and WeWork as restrictions eased.

Now

Six years later the hall is under new management, rebranded as Mettra, and holds a fresh liquor licence.

Why this matters now

The same venue that launched under pandemic limits is relaunching under new ownership with a new licence, illustrating how the hall has repeatedly reinvented itself.