Sip and relax at this amazing vintage bar in New York!
Written by Pedro Gouveia
Paying homage to the legacy of John W. Campbell, The Campbell showcases many of the 13th century Florentine-inspired design intricacies that upheld its legendary allure. Today, we’ll be presenting you bit more about this superbly glamorous vintage bar in New York City.
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Paying homage to the legacy of John W. Campbell, a Jazz Age financier who converted the space to his private office and reception hall in 1923, The Campbell showcases many of the thirteenth century Florentine-inspired design intricacies that upheld its legendary allure, including soaring, 25-foot hand painted ceilings, a grand stone fireplace, Campbell’s personal steel safe, a century-old leaded glass window and original millwork.
The lease of the Campbell Apartment expired in June 2016. Starting last July, the bar was closed while a legal battle between Mark Grossich and the Metropolitan Transport Authority took place. The authorities were against the continuation of the lease because they planned to modernize the Terminal and designate the Campbell Apartment space for some other use.
New Yorkers were definitely against such plans. People who had glimpsed inside the Campbell Apartment or sipped a martini at the bar didn’t want to see this part of the city’s history, and a reminder of a bygone era, disappear. After a petition had been signed by many people asking for it not to be destroyed, the apartment was saved.
After a change of hands and a brief shutdown in July 2016, Gerber Group (Mr. Purple) reopened the historic bar with more seating, a relaxed dress code and a streamlined moniker. And just like the most expensive plastic surgeries, the best features are preserved: The landmark space still sports its wooden, hand-painted ceilings, oversize stone fireplace and leaded-glass windows.
Scott Gerber, Gerber Group’s chief executive, says, “We don’t want it to be that secret place. We want it to be more inclusive. There are so many people who commute through here every day who didn’t know about it.”
This is a very welcome change: no more dress code, which makes accessing the bar a bit more inclusive, but also works toward making it more relaxed. The bar will, however, still focus on its old ways when it comes to the classics it serves, and they will, of course, be served by the same bartender, Paris DuRante.
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