In January 2007, Italian businessman Oscar Farinetti opened the first location of Eataly,[2] converting a closed vermouth factory in the Lingotto district of Turin.Easily accessible via the Lingotto metro station, the establishment has been described by The New York Times as a "megastore" that "combines elements of a bustling European open market, a Whole-Foods-style supermarket, a high-end food court and a New Age learning center."[3] Farinetti planned early on that additional stores would open elsewhere in Italy and in New York City with help of investor chef Mario Batali.[21] Eataly will fill approximately 40,000 square feet on the southern edge of the resort and The Park-facing side will become the main pedestrian entrance into the Park MGM casino.[24] In November 2016, a 45,000-square-foot Eataly location opened in the Boston Prudential Center, replacing an existing food court after extensive renovations.In September 2022, the UK investment firm Investindustrial VII LP became Eataly's owner by acquiring a majority 52% of its shares for 200 million euros.[citation needed] Mario Batali, previously a minority owner and founder of Eataly, is now no longer attached to the company following his sexual misconduct allegations.