For many tourists and first time visitors to Łódź walking down ul. Piotrkowska pedestrian strip can seem like a never-ending journey. Nevertheless, it is definately rewarding, and down the bottom has even more alternative culture, terrific gastronomy and another whole courtyard complex for you to explore on the other side! So muster your strength, strap on your boots and head south to Piotrkowska 217...
The next big post industrial courtyard development project is known as Piotrkowska 217, which is conveniently also the address to tell your friendly rickshaw/taxi driver if you don’t feel up to a brisk walk or bike ride south. This former iron smelting factory has a similarly illustrious history to other factories in town, however on a slightly smaller scale. Okam Property Developers purchased the space over five years ago and quickly set out renovating many of the former machine halls and former workshops in the complex. Right out of the gates Okam declared they wanted 217 to be a creative zone for artists and entrepreneurs and they have stuck to their guns ever since. Unlike OFF however, which focused more on nightlife and alternative urban culture (here’s looking at you hipsters), 217 focused first and foremost on food. And not just any old food – but street food from around the world. Before Okam had even finished renovating 217 they organized the very first Łódź Street Food Festival in January of 2014 featuring stationary food vendors as well as a fleet of food trucks parked all over the courtyard complex.
