Amazon Opened Shaver Hall in Manhattan
The 34,024-square-foot food hall in the former Lord & Taylor Building opened to the public in summer 2026.
Updated on Sept. 25, 2026 in Commercial
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Amazon opened Shaver Hall, a public-facing food hall, on the ground floor of the historic Lord & Taylor Building in Manhattan. The space, which launched in the summer of 2026, serves as a mixed-use amenity for both company employees and the local community.
Why it matters
The project aimed to activate the ground floor of the landmark 1914 structure and foster interaction between Amazon employees and the broader neighborhood. It repurposes a prominent retail space that had sat largely underutilized since the department store closed in 2019.
The project spans 34,024 square feet and hosts 11 food vendors with a total capacity of 1,400 people. Construction on the site took approximately 18 months to complete before the summer 2026 opening.
The players
Amazon
A global technology company known for its massive retail, cloud computing, and logistics operations.
ZGF Architects
An international architecture firm headquartered in Portland, Oregon, with a significant portfolio of large-scale urban commercial projects.
Journey
A design firm that collaborated on the interior and functional layout of the food hall space.
The details
ZGF Architects, in collaboration with the design firm Journey, managed the transformation of the ground floor. The renovation included the restoration of decorative facade elements to preserve the historical integrity of the 1914 building. The design focus was on creating an inviting space that encourages community gathering while integrating modern amenities into the legacy architecture.
Timeline
1914: The original construction of the Lord & Taylor Building was completed.
2007: ZGF Architects opened its New York City office.
2019: The historic Lord & Taylor department store closed its doors.
January 2025: Construction on the Shaver Hall project began.
Summer 2026: Shaver Hall officially opened to the public.
The Home Front
The conversion follows the pattern of adaptive reuse established by the 2019 closure of the Lord & Taylor department store. This project marks a shift toward repurposing heritage retail footprints into high-density community hubs in Manhattan.
If you are visiting the area, check the current operating hours for the 11 vendors before planning your visit. Residents and visitors should anticipate high foot traffic in the area surrounding Fifth Avenue and 38th Street given the 1,400-person capacity.
The takeaway
The transformation of the landmark Lord & Taylor Building highlights a growing trend of integrating food halls into former retail centers to drive foot traffic. Residents should note that the venue is designed to accommodate large groups and serves as a central hub at Fifth Avenue and 38th Street.
Further reading
For more information on how similar commercial projects change city neighborhoods, see Commercial.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Daily Journal of Commerce.
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