Campbell Apartment
The Campbell is a bar and cocktail lounge in Grand Central Terminal in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. The space, long known as the Campbell Apartment, was once the office of American financier John W. Campbell, a member of the New York Central Railroad's board of directors. It was later used as office space, as a studio by CBS[1] and as a jail by Metro-North Railroad. Renovations in 1999 and 2007 restored the space to its original opulence at a total cost of nearly $2 million. Temporarily closed in 2016, the bar was reopened the following year under new management.[2]
Located in the southwestern corner of the Grand Central Terminal building—above the northeastern corner of
History
The space was first leased in 1923 by
After Campbell's death in 1957, the rug and other furnishings disappeared from his office and the space eventually became a signalman's office and later an MTA Police office, where officers stored guns and other equipment. It also had a small jail, in the area of the present-day bar.[4]
After falling into disrepair, the space was restored and renovated in 1999. The walls and ceiling were brought back to their former glory and the original steel safe, once hidden behind a wall, now sits in the massive fireplace as a reminder of Campbell's wealth. The new bar is done in the same quatrefoil mahogany style as the balcony. The renovation cost an estimated $1.5 million.[4] A 2006 renovation replaced a largely blue palette with a largely red one, including new carpet, bar stools and chairs. To avoid closing for even one night, it took place in less than 12 hours and cost $350,000.[4]
The Campbell Apartment lost its lease in June 2016 after a protracted battle with its landlord and closed its doors at the end of the following month.[5]
In May 2017, the bar reopened as The Campbell.[2]
Popular culture
The Campbell Apartment was seen in the premiere episode, "Return of the Ring" (the Season Five finale) and in the final season episode "Monstrous Ball" (via video at cotillion) of the television series Gossip Girl in 2007.[6] The bar is also mentioned in Nell Zink's novel Doxology.
Gallery
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Main bar
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Curio cabinet once used as agun cabinet
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Campbell Palm Court, a satellite bar
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Front entrance, to the street
References
- ^ Marsh, Julia; Italiano, Laura (June 30, 2016). "All the history that's going to die with the Campbell Apartment". The New York Post. Retrieved 2016-07-30.
- ^ a b Carlson, Jen (2017-07-13). "Grand Central's Campbell Apartment Being Taken Over By Nightclub Group". Gothamist. Archived from the original on 2017-07-13. Retrieved 2018-11-05.
- ^ a b Goldsmith, Margie (August 2001). "From Corner to Community - Transformation of CEO Office Space". The Chief Executive. Retrieved 2011-11-12.
- ^ a b c Ramirez, Anthony (March 5, 2007). "Threadbare to Quite Posh, in Just 12 Hours". The New York Times. Retrieved 2011-11-12.
- ^ Dangremond, Sam (2016-07-06). "A Complete History of the Campbell Apartment". Town & Country. Retrieved 2018-11-05.
- ^ Lepore, Meredith (June 5, 2017). "Parties, Jail Cells and Gossip Girl: The History of The Campbell". Observer. Retrieved June 8, 2022.