Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
There May Be A Grand Central Apple Store After All
By
Jen Chung
Published May 23, 2011
Modified May 23, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published May 23, 2011
Modified May 23, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Back in February, there were rumors then rumors squashing rumors that Apple would build a store on the Grand Central Terminal balcony. Now, the rumors are back, thanks to a Wall Street Journal report.
The WSJ says, "The agency is looking for a single renter for two adjacent balconies on the north and east sides of the terminal. It will issue a request for proposals Monday. The current tenant of one of the balconies, celebrity chef Charlie Palmer's Métrazur restaurant, plans to close July 1 even though his lease ran until 2019 and the eatery was doing 'quite well,' Mr. Palmer said Sunday." In order for Palmer to vacate, he'll need to be paid out, and Palmer explains, "It's an offer that's hard to refuse. It's hard to compete with whatever that company might be that's taking the space."
Apparently Apple is interested because while the 15,000+ square foot space is not that large, it's in a prime location with tens of thousands of commuters and visitors: "Retail experts said an Apple store in Grand Central could surpass the popularity of the store that's open 24 hours a day under the plaza in front the General Motors building. Apple's designers built that store by putting a glass cube leading into a basement on Fifth Avenue, and experts figure the computer maker would figure out a clever way to make the Grand Central site work."
Whomever the eventual tenant is will have to submit plans that win the approval of the Landmarks Preservation Commission.
Tagged
apple
apple store
charlie palmer
grand central terminal
Metrazur
MTA
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Forest Hills Stadium can keep its concerts under deal with neighbors
Neighbors had complained of traffic and loud concerts for years.
By
Ryan Kost
Published Oct 22, 2026 at 2:49 p.m. ET
NYC Council to grill Mamdani officials on collapsed Hunts Point Produce Market deal
Council Speaker Julie Menin called the $650 million plan "mission critical."
By
Elizabeth Kim
News
NYC Council to grill Mamdani officials on collapsed Hunts Point Produce Market deal
Council Speaker Julie Menin called the $650 million plan "mission critical."
By
Elizabeth Kim
NYPD arrests 17-year-old in fatal Midtown subway platform shooting
By
Charles Lane
Ex-Adams aide accused of pocketing kickbacks from community program funds
By
Samantha Max
MTA to begin 6-year project to upgrade signal tech on A and C lines in Brooklyn and Queens
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .