The biggest restaurant event of the year – at least in terms of square footage – remained hidden in plain sight for six months.
The new, massive Grand Brasserie will open next week in Grand Central Terminal’s Vanderbilt Hall, replacing City Winery. The massive construction project has been going on behind the scenes for months without any media coverage, though the Grand Brasserie sign was clearly visible overhead.
The Rockwell Group-designed restaurant spans nearly 16,000 square feet and is the creation of Rick Blatstein, who recently sold his OTG restaurant empire of 350 restaurants in U.S. airport terminals and launched a new company called Vizz Group, according to MTA spokesman Aaron Donovan.
“Vizz Group comes to Grand Central with extensive experience in restaurant development and management,” Donovan said.
Contacted by the Post, Blatstein said he preferred not to share too many details until the Brasserie is fully operational. He did, however, say the menu would be a popular French format and the establishment would be open daily from 5:30 a.m. to 2 a.m., for the duration of the terminal’s operation.
The change of hands, as well as design and cuisine, came as a surprise. City Winery opened at the terminal in early 2022 to much hype and had at least a year left on its lease when it closed earlier this year.
The MTA said City Winery had asked the agency for permission to assign its operating agreement to Vizz. Gothamist reported in 2022 that the winery would lease the space for at least three years with an option for two more years.
According to Gothamist, the licensing fee is $500,000 and 8% of gross sales in the first year, and $1 million plus 10% of sales in the third year. However, it is unclear whether the terms of Blatstein’s contract are the same.
The west half of Vanderbilt was previously the Great Northern Food Hall.
Meanwhile, as part of restoring the luster of Grand Central’s pandemic-battered dining scene, the MTA said plans are on track for Cipriani to open Palladino’s Steak & Seafood restaurant on the northwest balcony of the main concourse, which was previously Michael Jordan’s Steakhouse.
