Beez Neez now Chy Whella

GC Market

Big Bear and Pepe Millard

Tue 12 Jul 2011 19:15

The Grand Central Market

On our audio tour of Grand Central Terminal, we followed directions that took us to the lower level past the Oyster Bar, of course it would have been rude not to nip in for a drink; to have a reason to take pictures of course..........

Then up the other side to another vast 'corridor', past the shoe shine boys and loads of stalls selling everything from soaps, perfumes, handbags in fact it felt like being in a mini department store. The ceilings and light fittings here were equally beautiful to the main concourse.

We were on a mission to find the 42nd Street entrance to GCT, this meant cutting through the side entrance to the Food Market (see just behind shoe shiners). As we opened the door, nothing could have prepared us for what we saw. Beautifully laid out foods of all kinds in a vast hall. Not to dally we made our way left and out to see the Bald Eagle who guards this end of the station, as instructed, looking at him from the other side of the road.

Sadly he was peeking out from scaffolding, but he still looked pretty imposing. Then we had to enter the food market and look up at the pearl shaped crystals hanging from a tree, just what you expect.....but it was nonetheless very stunning. That done we could take in the food before heading out the other end to see the "master entrance" to the station.

The Grand Central Market is a hall of food merchants who bring top quality fresh ingredients to the three million visitors who pass through Grand Central every week. It also is the best local food source for the thousands of New Yorkers who live in the Midtown Manhattan neighbourhood. Located on the east side of Grand Central, the Market itself is a huge food indoor food court that can be entered either from inside Grand Central or from its sidewalk entrance at Lexington Avenue at East 43rd Street. The space is lined completely on either side with individual merchants whose areas are designated by signage and glass cases, some of which seem to spill their goods into the wide walkway that runs from one end of the Market to the other, everything is so colourful and vibrant, a joy just to walk through.

The Market is open seven days a week. Monday through Friday it's open from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. It's particularly busy at lunchtime as office workers come either to pick up groceries to take home that night or find something for lunch that's an alternative to a deli or other take-out restaurant. At the weekend the Market is open from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, and from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday. The selection of merchants is eclectic and diverse, with some well-chosen competitors. For example, there are two fishmongers and two charcuteries. There are branches of two New York City bakeries and also the sole NYC outpost of a major national spice merchant. Apart from core grocery staples there is little you can't find at Grand Central Market to make almost any meal you may wish to cook.

Prices range from medium to high, due both to the quality of goods sold and also the high rent paid to have a food stall in the centre of Midtown. We saw 24 small cherries beautifully laid out – without stalks – on a Styrofoam tray, sealed with Clingfilm for $5.99. Tickler Cheese at $13.99 a pound. Wouldn't do to gather a weeks shopping then.......

As we left in search of the 'main' entrance there was an off-license that had a massive selection, again beautifully arranged

Lastly we had to find the Station Masters Office, waiting room (very posh) and small museum. That done it was time to hand back our audio equipment. What we had thought would be a twenty minute interlude in the day turned into a really interesting couple of hours. An excellent tourist attraction. Final pictures go to the other entrance where we had to look at the clock, statue and intricate stonework.