The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today announced the return of New York City’s longest-running indoor holiday fair to Grand Central Terminal following a two-year absence caused by the CoViD-19 pandemic. The Holiday Fair will run for six weeks in Vanderbilt Hall, beginning Monday, November 14, 2022. This year’s fair will feature 36 unique local vendors and small businesses with a focus on quality craftmanship and products made in New York and the United States. Vendors will sell a diverse mix of giftable items, including men’s and women’s clothing and accessories, original artwork, jewelry, holiday keepsakes and distinctive home décor, self-care products, and endless varieties of handcrafted goods.
Earlier this year, the MTA announced seven new Grand Central Terminal tenants. Over the past year, the number of retailers doing business in Grand Central has risen to 63, from just 36 as of October 2020. It coincides with Metro-North Railroad’s continuing ridership growth and the return of foot traffic through Grand Central Terminal. Average weekday ridership this November has been 175,900, up 34.7% from last November when it was 130,700.
The return of the fair reinforces the city’s progress in retail recovery and upswing overall. Grand Central Terminal continues to usher in locals, commuters, and visitors in growing numbers each month and expects an increase of visitors with the return of the fair.
“Today, we are so excited to celebrate the return of a beloved event for locals and tourists alike, the Holiday Fair,” said President of Metro-North Railroad and Interim President of the Long Island Rail Road Catherine Rinaldi. “Traditionally, Grand Central Terminal emulates the spirit of the holiday season, and there’s nothing quite like the return of New York City’s longest running indoor holiday fair to complete the enchanting experience.”
The Grand Central Holiday Fair is sponsored by SL Green Realty Corp. and AmericanGreetings.com. On behalf of AmericanGreetings.com, guests will have the opportunity to send free “Creatacard” digital holiday cards at the fair. The Holiday Fair runs Monday, November 14, 2022 through Saturday, December 24, 2022, and will operate Monday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 07:00 p.m., Sundays, 11:00 a.m. to 06:00 p.m., and Christmas Eve from 10:00 a.m. to 06:00 p.m. The Holiday Fair will be closed for Thanksgiving.
“Grand Central Terminal is not only an integral part of our city’s infrastructure, but a dynamic hub of New York City culture and tourism,” said Steven Durels, Executive Vice President and Director of Leasing and Real Property at SL Green. “SL Green is proud to be a part of its vibrant programming as a presenting partner of this year’s Grand Central Holiday Fair. The return of this cherished event feels particularly special as we look towards and celebrate the future of New York City.”
“As a global leader in the Celebrations marketplace, we are thrilled to be a presenting sponsor of the 2022 Grand Central Holiday Fair,” said Rob Matousek, Executive Director-Direct to Consumer Business at AmericanGreetings.com. “We are taking this opportunity to enhance the holiday celebration and bring even more cheer to the season by offering free virtual greeting cards from our Creatacard line to the fair attendees.”
“I am completely ecstatic and a little verklempt to be back here as this is my eighth year at Grand Central Terminal’s Holiday Fair, and it’s by far the most wonderful thing I do,” said Karla Gudeon from Karla Gudeon Art and Design. “I have a line of hand watercolored engravings, so a 200 year-old technique, and the designs feature things like strong women, New York cities, some Judaica, some inspiration. It was devastating to me through the pandemic to not have this fair. To be back and have this opportunity to connect once again, with my customers, with my amazing fellow artisans, even with the engineers and security team that is here for the MTA, I feel like I have come home.”
“It is my first year here,” said Loella Medina from Loella Medina Handcrafted Jewelry. “I sell handcrafted gemstone jewelry, all handcrafted locally here in New York State. I am really excited to be here, I have been looking forward to being part of the Holiday Fair. It was a long way, these last two years, but really happy to be here.”
“It is very exciting and feels like a dream to be back here, here in Grand Central,” said Peter Braun from The Glass House. “I live three blocks from the terminal so during CoViD-19 walking through here when it was so desolate and everything was closed, this really does feel exciting to be back here and of course, back in business. So, thanks to everyone at MTA, thank you for everyone at the fair management, and we are thrilled to be here.”
In addition to the fair, the Terminal offers more than 60 shops and restaurants to enjoy, offering a convenient opportunity for shoppers to dine and shop elsewhere in the Terminal before and after their Holiday Fair experience.”
For more information and to stay up to date with the Grand Central Holiday Fair and vendors, please visit here.
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About Grand Central Terminal
Grand Central Terminal is one of America’s greatest transportation hubs and one of New York City’s most iconic buildings. Grand Central Terminal is the terminus of Metro-North Railroad, and home to a number of boutique restaurants, cocktail lounges, a gourmet market, and many specialty shops. By the end of the year, Grand Central’s historic footprint will be expanded with the opening of Grand Central Madison, a 700,000-square-foot terminal and concourse designed to service the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR.) LIRR access into Manhattan’s east side is the most transformative expansion of LIRR service in more than a century.
For more on Grand Central Madison, please visit here. For the latest Grand Central news, re-openings, and operating updates, please visit here.
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