Apple Officially in Discussions for Retail Store Space in Grand Central Terminal

grand central terminal leasing

Grand Central Terminal leasing plan (PDF) with Metrazur on East Balcony at right

Earlier this year, reports surfaced claiming that Apple was pursuing a potential new retail store location in the historic Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan, a hub for both commuter and tourist activity. Claims had even suggested that the store could be the company's largest. But a few weeks later, word appeared claiming that Apple had backed out of its plans.

But according to The Wall Street Journal, Apple is indeed in discussions for a space in the terminal checking in at around 15,000 square feet, a fairly large store although not the company's largest.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is looking for new tenants for a marquee space in Grand Central Terminal, and computer giant Apple Inc. has expressed interest in putting a store there.

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.

According to a spokesman for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), the agency has spoken to Apple about the opening and is hoping that the company bids on the space.

The report hints that the MTA may be working specifically to find space for Apple, as successful restaurant Metrazur is one of the businesses closing to free up the space and the restaurant's owner suggests that he will be receiving a substantial buyout for agreeing to end his lease well before its 2019 expiration.

A new tenant would be required to pay Mr. Palmer a substantial sum of money to vacate his lease.

"It's an offer that's hard to refuse," said Mr. Palmer, who declined to put a number on it. "It's hard to compete with whatever that company might be that's taking the space."

Retail space in Grand Central Terminal is awarded through an open bidding process, meaning that Apple's official intent to bid on the space should become public as the selection process moves forward.

Popular Stories

iPhone SE 4 Thumb 1

iPhone SE 4 With Apple's Own 5G Modem 'Confirmed' to Launch in March

Tuesday November 19, 2024 12:12 pm PST by
Barclays analyst Tom O'Malley and his colleagues recently traveled to Asia to meet with various electronics manufacturers and suppliers. In a research note this week, outlining key takeaways from the trip, the analysts said they have "confirmed" that a fourth-generation iPhone SE with an Apple-designed 5G modem is slated to launch towards the end of the first quarter next year. In line with previo...
airtag purple

AirTag 2 Rumored to Launch Next Year With These New Features

Sunday November 17, 2024 5:18 am PST by
Apple released the AirTag in April 2021, so it is now three over and a half years old. While the AirTag has not received any hardware updates since then, a new version of the item tracking accessory is rumored to be in development. Below, we recap rumors about a second-generation AirTag. Timing Apple is aiming to release a new AirTag in mid-2025, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman....
Magic Mouse Next to Keyboard

No, Apple CEO Tim Cook Didn't Say He Prefers Logitech's MX Master 3 Over the Magic Mouse

Sunday November 17, 2024 3:03 pm PST by
While the Logitech MX Master 3 is a terrific mouse for the Mac, reports claiming that Apple CEO Tim Cook prefers that mouse over the Magic Mouse are false. The Wall Street Journal last month published an interview with Cook, in which he said he uses every Apple product every day. Soon after, The Verge's Wes Davis attempted to replicate using every Apple product in a single day. During that...
Generic iOS 18 Feature Real Mock

Apple Releases iOS 18.1.1 and iPadOS 18.1.1 With Security Fixes

Tuesday November 19, 2024 10:10 am PST by
Apple today released iOS 18.1.1 and iPadOS 18.1.1, minor updates to the iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 operating systems that debuted earlier in September. iOS 18.1.1 and iPadOS 18.1.1 come three weeks after the launch of iOS 18.1. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. Apple has also released iOS 17.7.2 for...
at t turbo indicator iphone 16 pro max v0 8hrh7w5f3w1e1

AT&T Turbo Indicator Showing Up in iPhone Status Bar for Subscribers

Wednesday November 20, 2024 3:42 am PST by
AT&T has begun displaying "Turbo" in the iPhone carrier label for customers subscribed to its premium network prioritization service, according to reports on Reddit. The new indicator seems to have started appearing after users updated to iOS 18.1.1, but that could be just coincidence. Image credit: Reddit user No_Highlight7476 The Turbo feature provides enhanced network performance through ...
iPhone 17 Slim Feature Single Camera 1 Redux

'iPhone 17 Air' Rumored to Surpass iPhone 6 as Thinnest iPhone Ever

Monday November 18, 2024 1:07 pm PST by
In a research note with Hong Kong-based investment bank Haitong today, obtained by MacRumors, Apple analyst Jeff Pu said he agrees with a recent rumor claiming that the so-called "iPhone 17 Air" will be around 6mm thick. "We agreed with the recent chatter of an 6mm thickness ultra-slim design of the iPhone 17 Slim model," he wrote. If that measurement proves to be accurate, there would be ...
bug security vulnerability issue fix larry

Make Sure to Update: iOS 18.1.1 and macOS Sequoia 15.1.1 Fix Actively Exploited Vulnerabilities

Tuesday November 19, 2024 10:52 am PST by
The iOS 18.1.1, iPadOS 18.1.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1.1 updates that Apple released today address JavaScriptCore and WebKit vulnerabilities that Apple says have been actively exploited on some devices. With the JavaScriptCore vulnerability, processing maliciously crafted web content could lead to arbitrary code execution. The WebKit vulnerability had the same issue with maliciously crafted...

Top Rated Comments

Lesser Evets Avatar
176 months ago
Wasn't this news several months ago?
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
FloatingBones Avatar
176 months ago
I keep thinking about the flash crowd events that have been held in GCT.

If Apple gets a store on the concourse, perhaps Microsoft could fly in some retail employees to do the electric slide (//www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSAXEVXvNz8) on the main floor for the opening. :)
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
OllyW Avatar
176 months ago
Wasn't this news several months ago?
Yes but it was later reported to have been shelved.

Earlier this year, reports (https://www.macrumors.com/2011/02/08/apple-seeking-to-build-new-retail-store-in-manhattans-grand-central-terminal/) surfaced claiming that Apple was pursuing a potential new retail store location in the historic Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan, a hub for both commuter and tourist activity. Claims (https://www.macrumors.com/2011/02/17/apples-grand-central-terminal-retail-store-to-be-largest-yet/) had even suggested that the store could be the company's largest. But a few weeks later, word appeared (https://www.macrumors.com/2011/03/21/apple-backs-out-of-plans-for-grand-central-terminal-retail-store/) claiming that Apple had backed out of its plans.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dethmaShine Avatar
176 months ago
Apple should a open an Apple Store in India. :|

There's not a single Apple Store there. :(
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
the8thark Avatar
176 months ago
Why do some new store rumours get front page news here when others only get 2nd page news? I don't understand.

Could it be that little stores get 2nd page and big flashy stores get front page?
No. Cause the Brisbane store will be very flashy, fancy and expensive. And it was on page 2.

Could it be only US stores get front page news?
No. Cause the Madrid store got front page news.

Could it be the Mac-Rumors staff pick whatever new store rumours they want for the front page and not care if the other ones are important to some people?
Very possible. I've found no other evidence to disprove this.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DJHonda84 Avatar
176 months ago
It also turned out to be convenient having Madison Square Garden at NY Penn Station. Not worth it though since a great station was essentially destroyed in the process.

I know an Apple Store at a GCT balcony wouldn't have such extreme negative effect, but I can't help but be sensitive when it comes to such proposal. GCT was the place that launched historic landmark preservation movements across the country. Plus, anyone who knows the history of GCT knows that too much willingness to bring in tenants and commercial partnerships was in poor taste.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)