Being a visual artist, MTA visual identity and typography is an eye candy for me as for every other artist, designer or a visual type. F-line T-shirt was the most important souvenir I bought last time when I exhibited in NY in 2006. This time we came as even bigger bunch of group and of course, we wanted to go to MTA museum as I wanted to bring some nice souvenirs to my family in Croatia as well. We were tight on schedule with everything in a big city and many friends to meet + exhibition to put together so we checked the working time and came to the MTA shop at Grand Central 20 minutes before closing time, counting we have enough time to buy the souvenirs and continue our program. The woman at the door told us she is not sure if she could let us in because they are about to throw a private party in the space. We told her where we are coming from (Croatia) and we were tight on schedule, checked their working time in advance in order to make sure to be on time. We also told her we need only a few minutes because we knew what we wanted to buy. Also, there were at least 10 customers in the shop at that moment. A small and cocky guy stormed onto us from within and, while cynically laughing explained there is no chance we could get in. We asked for his boss, on which he invited an older woman who was super unfriendly and turned us down in a very ugly manner. I rarely witnessed such unprofessional and unfriendly behaviour and I've been travelling all abroad for quite a while. Nevermind those completely incompetent people who are a big shame for the company they are working for (Hope not for long), the following morning we visited MTA museum in Brooklyn and bought a whole lot of souvenirs. 10/10...
Read moreLong story but bare with me. Me and my 17 friends flew from Croatia to NY to do you know, regular touristy stuff and one of those things included the MTA shop in Grand Central station (not to be confused with the MTA Museum in Brooklyn, those guys were really nice). Since our schedules were really busy we managed to find the time in Wed 4/17, and prior to heading out to the shop we checked to see if it was open - it was open until 7:30, so we go. We get there at 7:10, a young lady at the door tells us the shop is closed for a private event. We try talking to her and explaining that we came all this way to buy some souvenirs and that this wont take too much time. She almost agrees to let us in when her little colleague jumps up from the back and tells us we cant come in bla bla bla private event (mind you, there are still people shopping inside not affiliated with the event). So we try talking to him and i guess he was trying to be a big boy and be all mean so he calls another lady who tells us to go away. I always thought New Yorkers were really good with accommodating tourists, and these two are just the worst, so i definitely wouldn’t recommend the shop in Grand Central St unless you want to see rude...
Read moreI'm a fan of this place for over a quarter of a century now. The New York Transit Museum Gallery Annex and Store in Grand Central Terminal has been a delightful and often educational destination. This is a must-see for anyone with an interest in the city's history, transportation, or just curious about unique transit/train memorabilia. The gallery consistently offers engaging exhibitions. These shows are always entertaining, providing new insights and fun facts about the transit system and New York City itself. The shop is a treasure trove of curiosities, filled with items related to transit, trains, and the city's rich history. It's an ideal spot to find a truly unique gift or a special souvenir. The gallery is especially magical during the holiday season, making it a perfect outing for families with young children. They set up a wonderful miniature train display showing a winter wonderland version of New York City, which captivates both young and old alike. This special touch makes a visit during Christmas a...
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