Matt Levine (entrepreneur)
Matt Levine | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 17, 1982 |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation(s) | Business figure, entrepreneur, restaurateur |
| Known for | Founder of Chlorophyll Water and Matcha Mama Tulum; proprietor of Chalk Point Kitchen, The Eldridge, The Handy Liquor Bar; founder of Steelo |
Matt Levine (born February 17, 1982) is an American business figure, entrepreneur behind Chlorophyll Water and Matcha Mama Tulum, and a former restaurateur with a focus on hospitality, nutrition, and wellness industries.
Early life and career
Prior to launching Chlorophyll Water, Levine gained recognition as a restaurateur specializing in gluten-free, organic, locally sourced, sustainable vegetarian and vegan dining establishments designed to promote local agriculture and foster community connections.
Referred to as the “Lord of Local” by WWD, honored with “Best Display of Marketing Genius” by the Village Voice, and listed among Vanity Fair's #VF500 most influential individuals in 2017, Levine was the proprietor of Chalk Point Kitchen, a farm-to-table restaurant in New York City. He also operated The Handy Liquor Bar, a fresh-pressed elixir cocktail venue located in NYC. His enterprises extended to managing Food and Beverage operations at The Hotel on Rivington, W New York Times Square, and Walk Hotel Greenwich Village.
Levine additionally owned The Eldridge, a Lower East Side lounge in Manhattan, and developed Steelo, an upscale men's apparel brand.
Steelo
Introduced by Levine in 2004 and discontinued by 2008, Steelo was a men's fashion label retailed through luxury boutiques including Beam Japan, Holt Renfrew Canada, Fred Segal Los Angeles, and Atrium New York. It earned acclaim as one of the "Top 20 Brands in the World" by the World Global Style Network. The brand received media attention through coverage in People and OK! magazines as well as appearances at red carpet occasions.
The Eldridge
Established by Levine in 2008, The Eldridge is a bar and lounge situated on New York City's Lower East Side known for its exclusivity. Fox News characterized it as a "club that even famous people can't get into," issuing only 400 VIP cards exclusively to Levine’s inner circle. The venue is distinguished by live music performances, celebrity clientele, an opulent interior design, and a unique exterior resembling a used bookstore. While it garnered praise for its marketing efforts—winning "Best Display of Marketing Genius" from The Village Voice in 2008—the Eldridge has also been criticized for its stringent entry policies.
Chalk Point Kitchen
In 2013, Levine introduced Chalk Point Kitchen, a trendy and health-conscious restaurant located in SoHo that specialized in vegan dishes emphasizing sustainability and the use of locally harvested ingredients. It was a pioneer in Manhattan for implementing Gender Neutral Bathrooms.
Chalk Point Kitchen operated until 2018 and emerged as a prominent farm-to-table establishment in New York City, celebrated for its commitment to local, seasonal, organic, and sustainable cuisine. In 2016, it achieved the distinction of ranking first overall on Tripadvisor among 12,009 listings and was recognized as the leading vegetarian restaurant in both 2016 and 2017.
The eatery's menu was acclaimed by CNN as the “World’s Hottest Destination for Vegans” and earned a perfect 10 out of 10 rating from Manhattan Digest.
Chlorophyll Water
Matt Levine founded Chlorophyll Water in 2019, offering a purified beverage infused with chlorophyll. The Green Business Bureau praised it as “Beneficial for the Mind, the Body, and the Planet.”
This product is packaged in eco-friendly, biodegradable bottles aimed at minimizing pollution, decreasing greenhouse gas emissions, and promoting renewable energy recovery.
Amid the COVID-19 crisis, Chlorophyll Water contributed bottled water to healthcare professionals, homeless shelters, and senior living facilities. The company created a donation initiative collaborating with organizations including ACE New York Programs for the Homeless, Bowery Mission, and Hillside Food Outreach to ensure access to hydration for vulnerable populations.