First Look: Stylish food hall to open in former Lord & Taylor NYC flagship
An immersive new culinary experience will open on the ground floor of a landmarked building in Manhattan that formerly housed the Lord & Taylor flagship and is now owned by Amazon.
Located at 424 Fifth Avenue in Amazon’s “Hank” building, Shaver Hall will span approximately 35,000 sq. ft. and house 11 food stalls, a wine and cheese bar, a steakhouse and a “modern” bodega. (Amazon opened offices on the site in 2023 after it undertook an extensive, years-long renovation of the building, which it acquired in 2020.)
Expected to open later this year, Shaver Fall is named in honor of Doroth Shaver, the former president of Lord & Taylor and the first women to lead a multimillion-dollar firm. The space is being developed and will be operated by The Food Hall Co., whose previous projects include Legacy Food Hall in Plano, Texas; and Assembly Food Hall in downtown Nashville.
“We see Shaver Hall as a chance to reimagine the food hall experience in Midtown — creating a space built for connection, community, and culinary discovery, with the freedom to spotlight emerging chefs and the latest food trends,” said Randy DeWitt, co-founder of The Food Hall Co.
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(Renderings courtesy of The Food Hall Co.) -
(Renderings courtesy of The Food Hall Co.) -
(Renderings courtesy of The Food Hall Co.) -
(Renderings courtesy of The Food Hall Co.)
Design partner ICrave, a Journey Studio, transformed the space with rich jewel tones, metallic accents, warm woods and textured surfaces that celebrate the building’s landmark status and storied history. Woven canopies overhead unify the individual stalls into a cohesive collection of offerings, while illuminated tenant signs inspired by fashion labels sit atop the canopies
“Lord & Taylor has a rich history of fostering talent and showcasing innovative tastemakers through its iconic window displays, giving New Yorkers a glimpse into emerging fashion trends,” said Jesse MacDougall, principal at ICrave, which led the interior and lighting design for Sphere in Las Vegas. “Shaver Hall continues this tradition by offering curated culinary outlets and a central performance space, establishing itself as a modern platform for creatives of all backgrounds.”
The architect behind Shaver Hall is ZGF, known for projects such as the Portland International Airport renovation and Google’s Spruce Goose Hangar.
“The rich heritage of the Lord & Taylor building provided an incredible framework,” said Daniel Ghesquiere, associate principal of ZGF Architecture. “Our goal was to honor the space’s legacy while fostering a dynamic and modern future for New York’s food scene.”
The project is being built by partners that include Structure Tone for construction management, AMA Group for mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineering, and Jacobs Dolan Beer for kitchen design. Love & War was brought on early in the project to advise on the naming and lead the hall’s brand identity. The Seneca Group is managing the development, with Elizabeth Wild leading the development for The Food Hall.
