Matt Levine (entrepreneur)

Prior to founding Chlorophyll Water, Levine had been a restaurateur,^[1] known for his gluten-free, organic, locally sourced, low carbon footprint, sustainable, vegetarian and vegan restaurants “as a way to help local farms and build a sense of community".^[2][3]

Levine has been labeled as “Lord of Local” by WWD,^[4] awarded “Best Display of Marketing Genius” by the Village Voice, and was selected as one of Vanity Fair's #VF500, Top 500 most influential people in 2017.^[5]

Levine previously owned and operated the farm to table New York restaurant, Chalk Point Kitchen^[6] and fresh pressed elixir cocktail bar, The Handy Liquor Bar in New York City.^[7] While Levine's companies operated the Food and Beverage at The hotel on Rivington, W New York Times Square^[8] and Walk Hotel Greenwich Village.^[9]

Previously, Levine was the owner of the Lower East Side Manhattan lounge, The Eldridge,^[10] and creator of Steelo', a high-end men's clothing collection.

Steelo', created by Levin in 2004 and dismantled in 2008, was a men's clothing collection^[11] sold in various high-end boutiques,^[12] such as Beam Japans, Holt Renfrew Canada^[13] Fred Segal Los Angeles, and Atrium New York^[14] voted one of the "Top 20 Brands in the World" by the World Global Style Network. Steelo' apparel has been featured in People and OK! magazines as well in a series of other men's publications^[15] and red carpet events.^[16]

Opened by Levine in 2008, the Eldridge is a bar/lounge on the Lower East Side of New York City. The lounge has since received a lot of press regarding its exclusivity, with Fox News calling it a "club that even famous people can't get into."^[17] Reportedly only 400 of Levine's most esteemed acquaintances received "VIP admission cards."^[18] Known for its live music, celebrity patrons,^[19] lavish interior, and used bookstore exterior,^[20] The Eldridge has been both praised and criticized for its stringent door policies.^[21] In 2008, the Eldridge was voted "Best Display of Marketing Genius" by The Village Voice.^[22]

Levine opened up Chalk Point Kitchen in 2013, a “healthy” and “hip SoHo restaurant specializing in vegan food" with a commitment to “sustainability and sourcing ingredients locally" with a focus on community. Chalk Point Kitchen was the first restaurants in Manhattan to establish Gender Neutral Bathrooms.^[23][3]

Chalk Point Kitchen (2013-2018) was known for "reinventing farm to table fare"^[6] and became the premiere farm to table restaurant in New York City, known for its “local, seasonal, sustainable and organic foods”,^[24] ranking #1 overall on TripAdvisor out of 12,009 in 2016 and ranked No. 1 vegetarian restaurant in 2016 and 2017.^{[citation needed]}

The menu was awarded “World’s Hottest Destination for Vegans” by CNN,^[25]

Chalk Point Kitchen also received “a rare 10 out of 10 review” from Manhattan Digest.^[26]

Chlorophyll Water was founded by Matt Levine in 2019. Is a purified water beverage enhanced with the addition of Chlorophyll. Green Business Bureau defined it as “Good for the Mind, the Body, and the Planet"^[27]

Chlorophyll Water is bottled in landfill biodegradable bottles, “designed to eliminate pollution, reduce GHG emissions and recover clean renewable energy".^[28]

During COVID-19, Chlorophyll Water donated bottled water to medical workers, homeless and senior citizen centers.^[29][30]

Chlorophyll Water set up a donation platform where they donate bottled water to those in need of hydration through their partnerships with ACE New York Programs for the Homeless,^[31] Bowery Mission,^[32] and Hillside Food Outreach.^[30]