Chrysler Building's Underground Retail Space Sits Empty After RFR Ouster of Tenants
The retail arcade beneath the Chrysler Building once housed a barber, deli, dry cleaner and locksmith that served commuters passing through Grand Central. After Aby Rosen's RFR acquired the Lexington Avenue office tower in 2019, it removed all of those tenants. The space has since become largely vacant, according to the author's account.
The Chrysler Building is an office tower on Lexington Avenue. Its underground retail area once served people moving through Grand Central. It included a barber, a deli, a dry cleaner and a locksmith. RFR, the firm led by Aby Rosen, bought the property in 2019.
After that purchase, RFR removed those businesses. According to the account, the underground space has remained mostly empty since then. The story centers on the contrast between the arcade's former mix of everyday services and its current lack of tenants.
The vacancy may affect commuters and nearby workers who once relied on the arcade's services, potentially making daily errands less convenient. It could also shape perceptions of the building and surrounding district, perhaps signaling reduced below-ground activity or weaker foot traffic. Property owners and prospective tenants might consider how empty spaces influence leasing and neighborhood vitality. The outcome remains uncertain, and effects could vary by group.