Iconic Transit Hub Welcomes Melba’s, NYC’s Premier Comfort Food Destination
GCT Tenant and World-Renowned Chocolatier Jacques Torres Celebrates 25th Anniversary at the Terminal
More than 90% of the Retail Spaces at GCT are Filled
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today announced two new tenants have opened their doors in Grand Central Terminal (GCT) bringing top notch comfort food and fresh, Middle Eastern cuisine to the iconic rail terminal. The newly opened restaurants add to the multitude of dining choices that appeal to everyone who frequents the Dining Concourse.
Metro-North Railroad is coming off of the best year in its 40-year history where on-time performance exceeded 98% while carrying 12.1% more customers than in 2023.
The Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) began bringing riders to Grand Central Madison in 2023, and it enjoyed a phenomenal 2024 as well, with sky high customer satisfaction and record on-time performance.
“Grand Central is an iconic train terminal that sees millions of New Yorkers and visitors pass through every day,” said Metro-North Railroad President Catherine Rinaldi. “Popular destination restaurants like Melba’s and Naya join the many other fantastic food options that are already available. With the LIRR’s terminal at Grand Central Madison downstairs, it’s thrilling to have so many exciting places to visit as people pass through.”
“Owning a store at world famous Grand Central Terminal is an amazing opportunity in the heart of the biggest business district in the country for any retailer,” said MTA Chief Customer Officer Shanifah Rieara. “The opening of so many shops and restaurants in only one year shows that the MTA is back, New York is back, and when you take Metro-North or LIRR to Grand Central you’ll have an incredible array of dining and shopping choices to choose from without leaving the terminal.”
“The interest for me was the melting pot. This is iconic, this is Grand Central Terminal. There’s no other place like it in the world,” said Melba’s owner Melba Wilson. “There’s 750,000 people that go through this space on a daily basis. I’m born, bred and buttered, like I said, in Harlem. Everybody can not and will not come up to Harlem. But 750,000 come through Grand Central.”
Adding to the excitement will be Jacques Torres Chocolates. The world-renowned chocolatier is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a special limited edition "Fall in Love with New York" box of chocolates (only 300 are being made) featuring a subway train car, subway route symbols, and other NYC iconography.
Jacques Torres is also partnering with the MTA by designing a special, MTA-inspired, chocolate sculpture that will be on display in the window of its GCT location in the Lexington Passage and offering a special MTA Away deal for 15% offer purchases through February 8th.
“I am thrilled to celebrate 25 years of creating and making chocolates for my fellow New Yorkers,” said Jacques Torres owner Jacques Torres Chocolates. “There is nothing more New York than the MTA. They are the heartbeat of our city. I wanted to showcase that with this fun and tasty collaboration box of chocolates.”
“The success of Grand Central tenants, the majority of whom are small businesses, is an important priority in an iconic location,” said MTA Chief Real Estate Transactions and Operations Officer David Florio. “Not only do these businesses get the benefit of foot traffic generated by ridership, many also benefit from being located in the middle of a business district. Grand Central Terminal continues to be one of the best places to do business.”
“Joining the Grand Central Terminal community is an exciting moment for the NAYA Team,” said Hady Kfoury, CEO & Founder of NAYA. “We've felt an incredible reception from both commuters and partners, and we're proud to offer Middle Eastern Goodness to such a lively and diverse crowd.”
“Opening a Joey Bats Cafe at the iconic Grand Central Terminal was such a major milestone! Not only for my business but also my brand,” said Joey Bats, owner of Joey Bats Cafe. “The exposure I've received in this historic building has been amazing and I'm grateful to be here!"
"Opening a store at Grand Central has been a dream come true! It's the epicenter of NYC and to be able to showcase our locally handcrafted collection of jewelry and accessories is a huge boon to our business as we grow our audience locally but also internationally as GCT draws people from all over the world,” said Meghan Patrice Riley, Owner of MPR Jewelry. This space gives us the incredible opportunity to introduce more people to our signature designs—lightweight, architectural pieces that blend art and engineering. As we grow our audience locally and internationally, we’re thrilled to connect with new clients, offer customization experiences, and bring our vision of contemporary, wearable art to an even wider community."
"Opening Grand Brasserie inside the iconic Grand Central Terminal has been a remarkable opportunity for The Vizz Group. Not only does it allow us to bring an elevated dining experience to one of the most historic and high-traffic locations in New York City, but it also demonstrates our ability to balance scale with intimacy,” said Rick Blatstein, Owner of Grand Brasserie. “The MTA and Grand Central Terminal have been incredible to work with throughout this process, and their support has made working within such a unique and high-traffic space seamless. We are grateful for their partnership and looking forward to more success together."
“Opening my storefront at Grand Central has been an exciting opportunity to showcase my handcrafted jewelry in such an iconic and historic location. I love how my designs sparkle under the lights and draw people in to discover a whole new section of the terminal,” said Luxury Boutique Pop-Up Owner Karen Curtis. “Being here allows me to connect with new clients, share my passion for craftsmanship, and bring a little extra shine into their lives.”
“We’re so honored to be part of Grand Central, a landmark nearly as old as Sabatino. Opening our first U.S. store here has been a truly special milestone, introducing thousands of people to the magic of truffles,” said Pauline Charles, SVP Marketing Sabatino Truffles. “Truffles have a way of captivating people—just one taste, one aroma, and they stop in their tracks. Every day, we meet new faces—commuters, tourists, and locals—who stop to experience the rich aroma and flavor of truffles, often for the very first time. It’s been an incredible way to share our 114-year family tradition.”
“The opening of our flagship store in Grand Central Terminal marks as a defining moment for DRY MARTINI. As a Manhattan-made clothing brand, we share the timeless sophistication of this iconic destination—a perfect pairing,” said Dry Martini Owner Sarah Miller. “Now, in the heart of the city, we bring commuters and locals the champagne of shopping experiences—effortless, on-the-go style with a Manhattan edge.”
“We are thrilled to be a part of such a historical, landmark building in the heart of NYC,” said Kristen Foster, head of U.S. Retail Charles Tyrwhitt. “We added another Charles Tyrwhitt store to our retail fleet in October of 2024. This was our first store opening in the USA since 2018. It’s been a successful store for us out of the gate, and we look forward continued success in Grand Central!”
These new restaurants are part of a retail revitalization at Grand Central Terminal. 2024 saw 14 new options for both dining and shopping:
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Playa Bowls, fresh fruit bowls and smoothies in the dining concourse
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Van Leeuwen, choice ice cream options in the dining concourse
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Slate Point Meadery a Taste of New York store showcasing Made in NY products in the shuttle passage
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Joey Bats, Portuguese pastries in dining concourse
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Dry Martini, women’s clothing collection in the Lexington Passage
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Grand Brasserie, who has transformed Vanderbilt Hall into a Parisian-style restaurant
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Two Kids and a Dog, a unique collection of kids toys and apparel in Lexington Passage
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Charles Tyrwhitt, men’s clothing and formal wear on 42nd street
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Sabatino Truffles in the Grand Central Market
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Meghan Patrice Reilly, jeweler in the Lexington Passage
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Naya, middle eastern flavors in the dining concourse
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Artisan jewelers Selen, Karen Curits, and Fego Gioielli in the Graybar kiosks
The retail renaissance at Grand Central will continue in 2025 with two new restaurants under construction:
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Palladino’s Steak & Seafood on the Northwest balcony and taxiway
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San Wei, featuring ramen, dumplings and bao in the Dining Concourse
For more information on Grand Central Terminal and its newest retail tenants, please visit www.GrandCentralTerminal.com.