New York commuters hoping for an Apple Store steps from their evening train will have to wait. Plans for an Apple Store in Manhattan's Grand Central terminal are reportedly off, according to the New York Observer.
"A source close to the M.T.A. has confirmed that the company has backed out of plans" for the Grand Central store, the paper wrote.
Reports of Apple coming to the station first emerged in February. The new location was reportedly intended to take some of the stress off the hectic Apple store on Fifth Avenue, which is open 24 hours a day and sells more than the three other shops in the city combined.
The Grand Central location would have been 16,000 square feet, and located on the balconies of its main terminal, but likely would have faced a long approval process since it would be located in a city landmark, AppleInsider said.
Jeffrey Roseman, executive vice president of Newmark Knight Frank Retail, tweeted about the demise of the deal on Thursday. "Lets see if Apple NOT coming to Grand Central, gets as much press as it got, when the rumor started," he wrote.
Originally opened in 1871, Grand Central Terminal is the world's largest train station with 44 platforms on two underground levels. It sees 700,000 visitors each day, including droves of commuters and tourists. It was last renovated 11 years ago, and it's home to 68 stores and 34 restaurants in 134,000 square feet of space. Tenants are encouraged to sign 10-year leases.