‘Grand’ exits speed along
Grand Central Terminal is going more upscale in a hurry, The Post has learned.
As the landlord Metropolitan Transportation Authority looks to make the landmark transit center more posh, stores that have been serving commuters since the terminal’s renaissance 20 years ago — Brooklyn-based Junior’s, Two Boots Pizza and Grand Harvest Wines — are out.
In their place will be more upscale shops, like Art Bird & Whiskey Bar, run by Oprah Winfrey’s former personal chef, Art Smith. It replaces a grab and go café.
After the Grand Central makeover, which will accelerate through 2018 and beyond, the 146-year-old building may start to feel more like the luxury Short Hills Mall than a bustling transit center serving harried commuters.
The MTA is planning to issue five requests for propos- als for existing retail spaces before the end of the year after issuing just three during the first nine months — and 12 RFPs will go out in 2018, an MTA spokesman told The Post.
“Heading into the next two years, we expect a hastening pace of RFPs for retail spaces at Grand Central,” said the spokesman.
The upscale push is expected to increase rental income by 7 percent this year, compared with a 4.5 percent and 1.1 percent year-overyear rise in 2016 and 2015, respectively, according to the MTA.
Two longtime tenants, Irving Farm and Dishes — both grab and go eateries occupying about 1,200 square feet each on the lower level food hall — also will be replaced by more upscale restaurants, The Post has learned.
Moving in next year will be Tartinery, an eatery that serves open-face sandwiches and has three spots in the city, including The Plaza Hotel food hall.
Art Bird will be paying $4.1 million in rent over the next 10 years — beating out Dishes’ $3.3 million offer, and others.
Tartinery’s bid was lower than the one submitted by Irving Farm, but the MTA weighed other factors, including Tartinery’s ability to attract new customers, the MTA said.