The world’s largest Apple Store is definitely coming to Grand Central Terminal, Leander Kahney of Cult of Mac reported this morning. Just a week after we first heard rumors of Apple’s interest surface, Kahney says the store will likely open in “early September,” and it is supposedly set to be “Apple’s largest retail space in the world.” The MTA and Apple, however, are still not confirming this report, and where in the terminal any potential store will go is anyone’s guess.
As Kahney notes, 2011 is the tenth anniversary of Apple’s first retail store, and the computer giant wants to “make a big splash.” To do so, it’s looking to develop over 16,000 square feet of Grand Central, but two questions remain: Where? And how? The largest retail store in the terminal is a Rite Aid tucked into the walkway near the Shuttle, and it’s only 10,000 square feet. Initial reports in The Observer said that Apple would build “right in the terminal,” and Kahney’s source said Apple “may be taking walls down” in the landmarked building.
Despite the sure tone of these reports, neither the MTA nor Apple is commenting, and I’m intrigued but still somewhat skeptical. Landing Apple would be a huge get for Grand Central, and Apple would certainly draw headlines if they can find over 16,000 square feet in the terminal. I’ll keep my eye on this story over the next few months.
15 comments
Vanderbilt Hall, maybe? Hard to imagine where else they’d find that much space.
I agree that Vanderbilt Hall is the most likely location for such a huge store, but the Grand Central website says that it’s only 12,000 square feet. (Source: http://www.grandcentraltermina.....lthall.cfm)
I suppose they could reconfigure the Biltmore Passage on the northwest corner of the terminal, but I don’t know if that space is large enough either. Also — unlike Vanderbilt Hall — the Biltmore Passage wouldn’t give Apple the “wow” factor they look for in their stores
My guess is they build a glass cube several stories tall inside Vanderbilt Hall.
Maybe the ground floor of the Grand Hyatt. Last time I was there a few months ago, they were doing extensive renovations. I think if configured right there would be access from the GCT passages that connect to Lexington.
Vanderbilt is the obvious choice. As a bonus, it can be converted to a multi-level space using internally built structures.
Other options: All the real estate along the west side, from Rite Aid to the former Biltmore.
The Oyster Bar.
The Market + Graybar.
The Dining Concourse.
The balconies.
I can’t think of a place where this would go; perhaps they plan on gutting the 42nd Street stores (i.e. Banana Republic and perhaps joining them with Vanderbilt hall. I’d hate to see them ruin that wonderful room, but if done in good taste it could work.
I don’t think they’d roof over the ramps to the lower level again, and the Biltmore, Graybar, and Grand Central Market passages are out, as is the entire Lower Level because of crowd flow.
Metro-North is building a new crew room for it’s train service employees up where the tennis courts used to be, so perhaps the current crew area/locker room could be used, but it isn’t a good location. It’s near the Shuttle entrance next to the ramp to the 42nd Street/Vanderbilt Ave corner, so it’s hidden away. There’s a good deal of space there, but I just don’t see it without a grander entrance.
I don’t know if that crew area is directly underneath the 42nd Street shops (I forget which store is west of the main 42nd Street entrance), but I’m guess a two-level store combining the retail space and the crew room could be 16,000 feet.
Blessings if they kick out Rite Aid. There’s a plague of those things, plus Duane Reade. The other thing that vampires up real estate at a similar rate is bank branches, and we now know where their money came from.
Rite Aid, Posman, and the store next to it, and crew quarters.
That’s the only logical place I can think of.
Throw in the station masters office, the museum store and juniors.
East & NE Balcony
I think one of the biggest foregone opportunities for bringing in revenue through retail is the Manhattan Staten Island Ferry Terminal. That place sees tons of tourists and there are few nearby competing outlets for dining and spending. The MTA could mint money all summer on the tourist trade alone by establishing a halfway decent open air foodcourt, let alione something more elaborate.
Hmmm… Never thought about it. But it sounds about right. There might even be some opportunities doing the same at the Staten Island end, if tourists stay in St. George at all.
DOT owns and operates the Ferry Terminals. MTA only has the subway station.
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