HOW WE GOT HERE
Our story
& values
Since 1915, Butterfield has been part of New York City history. Named for its original area telephone exchange, we began as a home delivery service before Teddy “Mr. Butterfield” Appelbaum started knocking on neighbors’ doors, planting the community roots that define us today. What began as a gesture of hospitality has grown into a market, a catering kitchen, a gift destination, and a gathering place, woven into the fabric of New York City life.
A NEIGHBORHOOD PLACE
Our mission
To create the Butterfield Market Experience by offering the highest quality food that is fresh, delicious and enticing. Presented with style and care, inspired by trends and loyal to comforting classics. Customer service delivered with friendliness, professionalism and expertise in an environment that is warm, inviting and elegant. We hope to be a positive and enriching force for our guests, team members and for our surrounding community.
A FAMILY STORY
Meet the family
Butterfield Market is a family story spanning four generations of grocers.
Teddy Appelbaum first walked through Butterfield’s doors in 1955, taking the helm of a modest grocery focused on the essentials. What Teddy brought was vision. His wife Leah understood that instinct intimately — she had grown up
above her parents’ corner market in Queens, where Edith and Sol Kurzer ran a beloved neighborhood shop.
In 1974, Teddy and his son-in-law Alan Obsatz purchased the business and began expanding into specialty goods and prepared foods. Thirty years later, Alan’s children, Joelle and Evan Obsatz, joined the family business. All three remain active partners, proudly carrying on the Butterfield legacy.
A FOCUS ON THE INGREDIENTS
Our executive chef
Executive Chef Jorge Flores seeks joy in food and cooking. Surrounded from an early age by a kitchen culture that celebrated tradition and fresh, local ingredients, he learned and refined his skills in the kitchens of New York City. “Do something well, or don’t do it at all,” he might say. Driven by precision while trusting the magic of good ingredients, Chef Jorge sees food as an adventure and a labor of love.
A FOCUS ON THE INGREDIENTS
Commitment to great food
We are committed to food of the highest quality, always fresh, always flavorful, always beautiful. Our menus evolve with the seasons and culture, staying attuned to what’s new while honoring the classics. We support small, local, and artisanal producers, and we search the world for the finest ingredients, because great food deserves a place on our shelves.
A FOCUS ON THE DETAILS
Commitment to great design
Every detail of the Butterfield experience is intentional. Our spaces are designed for optimal flow and genuine enjoyment. Our graphic identity balances our century-long history with the vitality of a modern market. We work with Christine and Eric Strohl of Strohl, Inc., who continue to curate all brand materials. From signage to shopping bags, uniforms to delivery vans, every element is chosen with care. Our brand tells our story.
IT TAKES A VILLAGE
Community Involvement
At Butterfield Market, we believe our business has an obligation to its community. We’re proud to be an active neighbor, giving back and supporting those in need.
Our partnerships include the Dorothy Day Soup Kitchen at All Souls Church, the Ronald McDonald House, and national organizations including Cycle for Survival, Make-A-Wish
Foundation, and SAGE. Each October, our pink vanilla layer cake benefits breast cancer research at Weill Cornell. During the pandemic, we provided 40,000 meals to frontline hospital workers.
To connect about a partnership or charitable event, reach out at community@butterfieldmarket.com.
