Score 1998 prices at Grand Central’s trendy food and booze shops for one day
Next stop: a trip back in time to 1998.
Grand Central Terminal is rolling back prices to late ’90s levels for trendy food and drinks on Oct. 1 to celebrate 20 years as a refurbished retail destination.
Retailers at the Midtown commuter railroad hub — including The Campbell, Grand Central Oyster Bar, Doughnut Plant, Café Grumpy and Li-Lac Chocolates — are offering discounts of around 35% that day. That’s approximately what the sale items would have cost in 1998, when $200 million worth of renovations were completed that restored the neglected landmark building and brought in quality eateries and shops.
“Twenty years ago, the MTA completed its historic restoration of Grand Central Terminal, returning it to its original grandeur and reaffirming its importance as a world class transportation hub and iconic landmark,” Metro-North President Catherine Rinaldi said in a statement. “The transformation not only made commuting a safer and more enjoyable experience for our customers, it signaled a vote of confidence that we would reinvest in our infrastructure, as a fundamental bedrock of our region’s economy.
“The restoration has had tremendous lasting benefits,” Rinaldi added. “With its premier shops, restaurants, and events, Grand Central Terminal today is more than a first-class transportation hub, it is an iconic destination that attracts visitors from around the globe.”
About 750,000 people pass through the terminal each day, and they’ll have a chance to score deals all day on Oct. 1. Among them, Doughnut Plant is offering $2 yeast doughnut seasonal specials in Apple Cinnamon and Banana Pecan.
You’ll also be able to get a slice of New York Cheesecake for $5.50 at Grand Central Oyster Bar & Restaurant, select cocktails at the upscale The Campbell Bar for $11.70, a Buttermilk Fried Chicken Sandwich for $6 (down from $11) at Art Bird & Whiskey Bar and a BLT from Central Market for $5 (down from $7.95). Pick up a 12-ounce coffee for $1.75 at Café Grumpy, or grab a piece of fudge for $2.44 (reduced from $3.75) from Li-Lac Chocolates.
Non-edible deals include $3 shoe shines at Leather Spa, and Scented Macaron Zippered Coin Purses for $2.99 (originally $8.95) at Piq.
To mark the milestone, a limited number of Grand Central-themed Rubik’s Cubes will be handed out in the 105-year-old terminal. And a photo installation — “Details & Light: Historical Photographs of Grand Central Terminal” — is on display through Oct. 15 at Café Grumpy.