Food - Drink
The Not-So-Hidden Bar at Grand Central Station
By LISA CURRAN MATTE
Hidden in New York City’s Grand Central Terminal is a not-so-secret bar, The Campbell, that transports patrons to a 1920s-esque world of elegance.
The Campbell began as the lavish 3,500-square-foot office space of financier John W. Campbell, featuring a hand-painted ceiling, a lead glass window, and a fireplace.
Following Campbell’s death in 1957, the space fell into disrepair until the 1990s, when Mark Grossich, an investor in high-end venues, turned it into a luxurious bar.
Grossich leased the space at an annual rate of $350,000, spent $2.5 million on restoration, and named the bar The Campbell Apartment in Campbell’s honor.
The restaurant debuted in 1999, featuring a dress code banning casual attire and an easy-to-overlook entrance at 15 Vanderbilt Avenue.
In 2016, the Gerber Group took over the lease, and representative Scott Gerber said they would maintain the bar’s elegance while relaxing the rules and dress code.
Now known as The Campbell, the bar is easier to find thanks to new signage, and features an outdoor venue where you can sip cocktails like a Manhattan or Prohibition Punch.