Albany, NY - February 26, 2014 - Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board has approved selection of an operator to open and run the first ever Taste NY™ wine and food product store in Grand Central Terminal. The move would be another major step towards positioning New York’s finest food and beverages on a world class stage. MTA staff reviewed proposals through a competitive process that began last October, and recommended One Woman Wines & Vineyards of Southold, located on the North Fork of Long Island.
“As many as 750,000 people travel through Grand Central every day, which makes it the perfect venue to highlight New York’s world class food and wine to new customers,” Governor Cuomo said. “Showcasing New York’s best food and wine in this iconic and widely utilized transit hub will help to boost business for our local producers, and ultimately grow tourism and economic activity in communities throughout the State. I encourage travelers to look out for the opening of this one-of-a-kind store in Grand Central, and experience more of what they’ve been missing about New York State.”
The shop would occupy 460 square feet of space on the west side of the Terminal, adjacent to the Biltmore Room across from Track 37. The shop will be supported by the Governor’s Taste NY marketing campaign which complements the quality of the retail merchandise currently available in Grand Central Terminal.
One Woman Wines & Vineyards plans to feature abundant displays of wines and food items produced throughout New York State ranging in price from $10 to $100. Other products will include beer and spirits such as Brooklyn Brewery and Hudson Baby Bourbon, and products from state-wide food purveyors such as McLure’s and Baldwin Hill.
Owner Claudia Purita strongly believes in sustainability and self-reliance having grown up on her family’s farm in Calabria, Italy. Purita spent several years in the restaurant industry before opening the vineyard in 2004 in Long Island’s “wine country.”
“We’re excited that this unique New York-based winery wants to engage in the upcoming Taste NY program,” said Nancy Marshall, MTA's Director of Grand Central Terminal Development. “One Woman’s Wines & Vineyards’ proposal aligns itself with the existing quality level of shopping and dining choices already offered in the Terminal and Taste NY’s mission to promote New York’s agricultural and farm-based foods.”
Space for the store is currently occupied by Papyrus, a card/stationery store, which will remain there on a month-to-month agreement until the Taste NY establishment will begin its build-out. The store is scheduled to open in August, 2014.
Governor Cuomo launched Taste NY in May 2013 as part of New York’s largest tourism campaign in decades, with a focus on expanding New York's food and beverage industry and to promote agribusiness across the state.
Taste NY stores opened at LaGuardia Airport last December and in the New Baltimore rest area of the New York State Thruway south of Albany. The Taste NY program is being marketed through a range of promotional efforts including Taste NY tents at important events, Taste NY stores in transportation hubs and public facilities, and a dedicated website www.taste.ny.gov.