Wanamaker Grand Court Gets Dining and Retail Plans
Philadelphia's zoning board approved food, beverage and retail concepts for the long-vacant Grand Court of the historic Wanamaker Building.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Commercial
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The Philadelphia zoning board on Wednesday, Oct. 29, approved food, beverage and retail concepts for the 30,000-square-foot Grand Court, which has largely sat empty since Macy's closed last year. Alterra Property Group plans a dining hub in the space as part of a broader redevelopment of the 12-story building.
Why it matters
The approval moves the redevelopment of a long-idle landmark in Center City closer to final planning, with the Grand Court's tenant mix still to be determined. For Philadelphia residents and visitors, the project signals whether the building's ground-floor public space will return to active use.
The Grand Court covers 30,000 square feet inside a 12-story building completed in 1911 and listed on the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places. Final tenant mix and layouts have not been announced.
The players
Alterra Property Group
A developer planning a dining hub in the Wanamaker Grand Court as part of the building's redevelopment.
Philadelphia Historical Commission
The city body whose approval is required for changes to the Grand Court, the Wanamaker organ and the eagle statue.
The details
Zoning approval lets developers advance to final planning, where layouts, tenants and integration with historic elements will be set. Changes to the Grand Court, the Wanamaker organ and the eagle statue require sign-off from the Philadelphia Historical Commission, and the Crystal Tea Room remains open during the work.
Timeline
Completed in 1911, the Wanamaker Building was built as a department store.
Macy's closure last year left the Grand Court largely empty.
On Wednesday, Oct. 29, the zoning board approved the Grand Court concepts.
Scaffolding is up and construction on the upper floors is underway as of late October.
Developers are aiming to reopen the completed building in 2028.
Market Landscape
The Wanamaker Building was built in 1911 as a flagship department store, and its ground-floor retail space has now lost its anchor tenant. The redevelopment replaces that single-retailer model with a mix of dining, retail and apartments in the upper floors.
Residents and visitors can expect the Crystal Tea Room to stay open while construction proceeds, though the Wanamaker organ and holiday light show are offline this season. The Grand Court's eventual dining and retail options will shape how the public space is used once the building reopens.
The takeaway
The Wanamaker Grand Court's reuse shows how historic department stores can be converted into mixed-use space when a single anchor tenant leaves. Watch for the tenant announcements and Historical Commission decisions that will determine the final result.
What happens next
Final planning for the Grand Court layouts and tenants is still to come, and any changes to the Grand Court, organ or eagle statue require Philadelphia Historical Commission approval.
Further reading
For more on commercial space deals in the city, see Philadelphia Commercial.
Source note: This article includes information reported by 102.9 WMGK.
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