To those who frequent Grand Central Terminal in 2018, it’s hard to recall a time before the Stony Creek granite and Indiana limestone passageways were lined with coffee shops and upscale boutiques, or before the subterranean concourse was transformed into a fast-casual dining food court with local options like Shake Shack and Magnolia Bakery. At the present-day Grand Central Terminal, there is more to the midtown hub than just its trains.
On Monday, Oct. 1, Grand Central will celebrate 20 years of dining and retail with special sales at the terminal’s many restaurants, eateries, specialty shops and market. While the station opened its doors to the public in 1913, it wasn’t until 1998 that it began to incorporate the restaurants and stores it has today. To commemorate the anniversary, the one-day-only special will feature “throwback” pricing, meaning you can get your hands on a variety of bits and bites for the prices they would have cost back in the late ’90s.
With five restaurants and cocktail lounges, 20 fast-casual eateries, 50 specialty shops and Grand Central Market, there’s something for everyone. Soup will go for just 98¢ at Hale and Hearty; buttermilk chicken sandwiches for $6 at Art Bird & Whiskey Bar, down from $11; and classic cocktails at the exclusive Campbell Apartment for $11.70 , down from the typical $13 to $20 price range. Shops are marking certain items down to their pre-inflation prices, for example, Moleskine’s New York City notebook will be marked down more than $5.
This event is perfect for those looking for a good deal and a way to celebrate the transportation hub’s transformation into the glamorous retail destination it is today.
For more, visit grandcentralterminal.com.
— Meghan McSharry
