America’s grand rail halls are turning into luxury billboards on steel rails. Walk into Manhattan’s $4-billion Oculus and you’ll join thousands of people who sweep past Pandora, Boss, luxury watch displays, and marble floors every day—yet almost no one ducks into the stores.
Cheap PATH fares are the lure, but the real money lies upstairs where Westfield bought the retail rights for $600 million (and later another $800 million) to chase eyeballs, not receipts.
The logic is simple but staggering: One huge station can swallow the sales—or at least the advertising value—of dozens of street-corner shops. Grand Central needs $2.7 billion in repairs over the next three years, yet its commuter railroads are running billion-dollar deficits; luxury leases promise a revenue stream that tickets never could.
In other words, the future of American rail may hinge less on locomotives and more on whether commuters will impulse-shop a $200 rain parka on the way to track 17.
[VIDEO] Ice Cream Factory Transformed Into 80,000 Sq Ft NYC Home
A New York City couple offers a look at the former ice cream factory they spent 40 years transforming into their home. From ice cream mixer sinks to preserved chimney stacks, they modernized a turn-of-the-century structure into their forever home.
[WATCH] Revealed: The Bold History and Evolution of Jewish Delis in New York City
We define ourselves through our history, culture and food. But we rarely think to stop and ask, how does it all work? "Revealed" examines the how and why while pulling the curtain back on things you never thought to ask. Where towering sandwiches meet quirky rural traditions, we're taking a look at iconic Jewish delis in this episode of Revealed including their historic culture, modern adaptations, and more.
0:00 - Introduction
0:28 - What is the famous Jewish sandwich?
1:53 - What was the most famous Jewish deli in NYC?
06:48 - What makes a Jewish deli?
10:44 - What happened to Jewish delis in NYC?
17:35 - The future of Jewish delis