Editing Grand Central Terminal (section)

==== Vanderbilt Hall ====
{{multiple image|align=left|direction=vertical
|image1=Main waiting room, Grand Central Terminal.jpg|alt1=Old image of the ornate Vanderbilt Hall|caption1=Vanderbilt Hall, {{circa|}} 1913
|image2=Tournament of Champions Squash 2012.jpg|alt2=Glassed-in squash court in the Beaux-Arts-style hall|caption2=The [[Tournament of Champions (squash)|Tournament of Champions]] [[Squash (sport)|squash]] championship in 2012}}

Vanderbilt Hall is an event space on the south side of the terminal, between the main entrance and the Main Concourse to its north.<ref name="directory" /> The rectangular room measures {{convert|65|x|205|ft}}. The north and south walls are divided into five bays, each with large rectangular windows, screened with heavy bronze grills.<ref name="Interior10">{{harvnb|ps=.|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1980|page=10}}</ref> The room is lit by Beaux-Arts chandeliers, each with 132 bulbs on four tiers.<ref name="RN p. 96" /> Vanderbilt Hall was formerly the main waiting room for the terminal, used particularly by intercity travelers. The space featured double-sided oak benches and could seat 700 people.<ref>{{cite web|title=Attention Railroad Buffs and Architecture Aficionados: Artifacts Sought for Grand Central Terminal Centennial Exhibition|publisher=Metropolitan Transportation Authority|url=http://www.mta.info/press-release/metro-north/attention-railroad-buffs-and-architecture-aficionados-artifacts-sought|date=August 2, 2010|access-date=March 25, 2019|archive-date=March 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190325190912/http://www.mta.info/press-release/metro-north/attention-railroad-buffs-and-architecture-aficionados-artifacts-sought|url-status=dead}}</ref> As long-distance passenger service waned, the space became favored by the homeless, who began regularly living there in the 1980s. In 1989, the room was boarded up in preparation for its restoration in 1991. During the process, a temporary waiting room was established on an upper level of the terminal.<ref>{{cite news |last=Durkin |first=Barbara J. |date=August 17, 1990 |title=Restoration of Grand Central Waiting Room to Begin Next Year |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-reporter-dispatch-restoration-of-gra/161349872/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241222064906/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-reporter-dispatch-restoration-of-gra/161349872/ |archive-date=December 22, 2024 |access-date=December 22, 2024 |newspaper=The Reporter Dispatch |page=20 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref>{{refn|Several of the hall's benches were moved to a smaller waiting room in the Station Master's Office. In 2018, two of the benches were sent on a long-term loan to [[Springfield, Massachusetts]]'s [[Springfield Union Station (Massachusetts)|Union Station]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Goonan|first=Peter|title='A work of art': Springfield unveils restored Grand Central benches at Union Station|newspaper=Mass Live|url=https://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2018/07/springfield_union_station_unveils_restored_grand_central_terminal_benches.html|date=July 16, 2018|access-date=December 14, 2018|archive-date=December 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215121355/https://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2018/07/springfield_union_station_unveils_restored_grand_central_terminal_benches.html|url-status=live}}</ref>|group=N}}

Around 1998, the renovated hall was renamed in honor of the [[Vanderbilt family]], which built and owned the station.<ref name="nyt19980802" /> It is used for the annual Christmas Market,<ref>{{cite web | title=Grand Central Holiday Fair | website=The official website of the City of New York | date=December 20, 2017 | url=http://www1.nyc.gov/events/grand-central-holiday-fair/160627/37 | access-date=January 1, 2019 | archive-date=February 2, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190202095417/https://www1.nyc.gov/events/grand-central-holiday-fair/160627/37 | url-status=live }}</ref> as well as for special exhibitions and private events.<ref>{{cite web | title=Vanderbilt Hall at Grand Central Terminal | website=NYC & Company | date=January 26, 2018 | url=https://business.nycgo.com/listing/vanderbilt-hall-at-grand-central-terminal/46656/ | access-date=January 1, 2019 | archive-date=February 2, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190202041658/https://business.nycgo.com/listing/vanderbilt-hall-at-grand-central-terminal/46656/ | url-status=dead }}</ref> From 2016 to 2020, the west half of the hall held the Great Northern Food Hall, an upscale Nordic-themed food court with five pavilions. The food hall was the first long-term tenant of the space; the terminal's landmark status prevents permanent installations.<ref name="nyt20160407"/><ref name="closed">{{cite news|last=Passy|first=Charles|title=Grand Central Oyster Bar Closes After Briefly Opening at Limited Capacity|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/grand-central-oyster-bar-closes-after-briefly-opening-at-limited-capacity-11602538446|date=October 12, 2020|access-date=October 4, 2021|archive-date=October 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211004154229/https://www.wsj.com/articles/grand-central-oyster-bar-closes-after-briefly-opening-at-limited-capacity-11602538446|url-status=live}}</ref>

Since 1999, Vanderbilt Hall has hosted the annual [[Tournament of Champions (squash)|Tournament of Champions]] [[Squash (sport)|squash]] championship.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tocsquash.com/toc-history/|title=ToC History|website=Tournament of Champions|access-date=December 24, 2018|archive-date=December 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225030706/http://tocsquash.com/toc-history/|url-status=live}}</ref> Each January, tournament officials construct a free-standing glass-enclosed {{convert|21|by|32|ft|adj=on}} squash court. Like a [[theatre in the round]], spectators sit on three sides of the court.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/lynndouglass/2013/01/23/grand-central-stations-glass-box-amazes-again/|title=Grand Central Station's Glass Box Amazes Again|last=Douglass|first=Lynn|date=January 23, 2013|work=Forbes|access-date=December 24, 2018|archive-date=December 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225080841/https://www.forbes.com/sites/lynndouglass/2013/01/23/grand-central-stations-glass-box-amazes-again/#5837a5777467|url-status=live}}</ref>

A men's smoking room and women's waiting room were formerly located on the west and east sides of Vanderbilt Hall, respectively.<ref name="nyt20160407" /> In 2016, the men's room was renovated into [[Agern]], an 85-seat Nordic-themed fine dining and [[Michelin star|Michelin-starred]] restaurant operated by [[Noma (restaurant)|Noma]] co-founder [[Claus Meyer]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.viamichelin.com/web/Restaurant/New_York-10017-Agern-504291-41102|title=Agern – New York : a Michelin Guide restaurant|website=ViaMichelin|access-date=December 15, 2018|archive-date=August 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808153528/https://www.viamichelin.com/web/Restaurant/New_York-10017-Agern-504291-41102|url-status=dead}}</ref> who also ran the food hall.<ref name="nyt20160407" /> Both venues permanently closed in 2020 during the [[COVID-19 pandemic in New York City|COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref name="closed"/> City Winery signed a lease for both the food hall and the Agern space in 2022.<ref name="Orlow 2022">{{cite web | last=Orlow | first=Emma | title=City Winery Is Taking Over the Former Great Northern Food Hall in Grand Central | website=Eater NY | date=April 27, 2022 | url=https://ny.eater.com/2022/4/27/23043515/city-winery-opening-grand-central-terminal | access-date=April 28, 2022 | archive-date=April 28, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220428003144/https://ny.eater.com/2022/4/27/23043515/city-winery-opening-grand-central-terminal | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Yakas 2022">{{cite web | last=Yakas | first=Ben | title=City Winery opening new venue inside Grand Central Terminal | website=Gothamist | date=April 26, 2022 | url=https://gothamist.com/arts-entertainment/city-winery-opening-new-venue-grand-central | access-date=April 28, 2022 | archive-date=April 28, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220428003144/https://gothamist.com/arts-entertainment/city-winery-opening-new-venue-grand-central | url-status=live }}</ref> The firm opened a wine bar, a quick-service restaurant named City Jams, and a [[farm-to-table]] restaurant named Cornelius in these spaces that November.<ref name="Food & Wine 2022">{{cite web | title=Grand Central Station Is Getting a Cool New Wine Bar | website=Food & Wine | date=November 9, 2022 | url=https://www.foodandwine.com/city-winery-opens-grand-central-6827240 | access-date=November 16, 2022 | archive-date=November 16, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221116140321/https://www.foodandwine.com/city-winery-opens-grand-central-6827240 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Sutherland-Namako 2022">{{cite web | last=Sutherland-Namako | first=Amber | title=Get $5 off wine with City Winery's reusable bottle program | website=Time Out New York | date=September 28, 2022 | url=https://www.timeout.com/newyork/news/city-winerys-latest-location-is-launching-a-reusable-bottle-program-092822 | access-date=November 16, 2022 | archive-date=November 16, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221116140313/https://www.timeout.com/newyork/news/city-winerys-latest-location-is-launching-a-reusable-bottle-program-092822 | url-status=live }}</ref>