Food Hall Set for NY’s Ex-Lord & Taylor Building

The Food Hall Co. (Dallas) has unveiled plans for its newest development, Shaver Hall, on the ground floor of the former Lord & Taylor department store building at 424 5th Ave. in New York. Spanning about 35,000 square feet, Shaver Hall will offer two restaurants, more than 10 food stalls, two full-service bars, a bodega and live music.

“We can’t wait to introduce Shaver Hall to the vibrant culinary scene in Midtown Manhattan,” said Randy Dewitt, Co-Founder of The Food Hall Co. “We look forward to working with Amazon to create an experience that celebrates the diverse flavors and culinary talents of New York City while fostering a sense of community and connection within this iconic space.”

The new food hall is named in honor of Dorothy Shaver, who was president of Lord & Taylor from 1945 until her death in 1959, who is widely held to be the first woman to head a multimillion-dollar business.

Originally constructed in 1914, the Lord & Taylor Building is an 11-story structure in the Italian Renaissance Revival style, designed by architects Starrett & van Vleck. Situated on Fifth Avenue between 38th and 39th Streets, the building’s granite, brick and limestone facade and copper cornice “have symbolized elegance and sophistication for over a century,” The Food Hall said in a news release.

Lord & Taylor closed its Fifth Avenue store in 2019, and last year, Amazon reopened it, renaming it the “Hank,” following an extensive restoration process that resulted in collaborative workspaces for 2000 employees and 1500 square feet of community space for use as part of a partnership with the City University of New York (CUNY).

“We are excited to work with Food Hall Co. to open our ground floor to the entire community,” said Shannon Loew, Amazon’s VP of Global Real Estate & Facilities. “In addition to bringing exciting food options to the area, Shaver Hall will create new opportunities for local small businesses and contribute to the vibrancy of Midtown.”

Project backers also unveiled the names of the first two food stalls in the complex: Chef Jun Park’s Korean-inspired Chick Chick and Taqueria Al Pastor, which features traditional Mexican cuisine.

The Food Hall Co.’s existing complexes include Legacy Hall in Plano, Texas, and Assembly Food Hall in Nashville.