Familiar faces and flavors are headed to the Long Island Rail Road concourse inside Penn Station.
Tracks Raw Bar & Grill, a favorite haunt of travelers of the past, is set to reopen by the end of 2024. — occupying 3,150 square feet of space in the newly renovated lobby.
Co-owner Bruce Caulfield’s collection of LIRR memorabilia will be on display, and Tracks’ tried-and-true staples—raw bar, wings, New York strip steak—will once again help fortify customers, whether they’re office workers heading home to Long Island or Rangers fans donning a sweater before heading up the stairs.
“Tracks has always been more than just a bar; it’s a piece of New York history,” Caulfield said in a press release. “We’re excited to bring back the warm atmosphere and exceptional hospitality that made it a favorite with travelers and locals alike.”
Plans call for construction on the Tracks location in Penn Station to begin in the fall, according to the press release, which also predicts the familiar restaurant will open by the end of the year.
It’s the latest reminder of the station’s ongoing renovation, which includes a $65 million upgrade to expand public space outside. The renovated LIRR concourse opened last year after a $700 million renovation.
A multi-billion dollar reconstruction project for the station is still in the planning stages.
Along with his father, John, and partners Patrick and Michael O’Brien, Caulfield opened the original Tracks location on the east end of the LIRR concourse in 2003. It quickly became known for its welcoming atmosphere amid the hustle and bustle of the big city and its respect for railroad history, as evidenced by LIRR prints and murals and a model of the 1964 World’s Fair subway.
When a major renovation of the station forced its closure in 2019, Tracks moved upstairs to its current location on 31st Street, between Seventh and Eighth Avenues.
“Tracks isn’t just about food and drink, it’s about community,” said Caulfield. “We look forward to welcoming back old friends and new faces to share the nostalgia and warmth that is Tracks.”
Caulfield and a group of new partners are leasing the Penn Station space from Vornado Realty Trust, the private developer that owns, operates and is renovating much of the property in and around the transit center.
“Tracks is an iconic part of Penn Station and we are pleased to welcome them to our home,” said Ed Hogan, executive vice president of retail leasing at Vornado.
