Philly’s historic Wanamaker Building is getting a new $4 million event venue
The 5,000-square-foot space on the same floor as the Crystal Tea Room is currently under construction.
The historic Wanamaker Building in Center City will soon be home to a new $4 million event space.
The Wanamaker Room, the latest addition to the Finley Catering portfolio, will be able to serve as a standalone venue or an expansion of the Crystal Tea Room, where Finley has held weddings and banquets for 25 years.
The new 5,000-square-foot space, on the same floor as the Crystal Tea Room, is currently under construction, according to the Finley team, and is set to open in early 2027.
“The Wanamaker Room is an investment in the guest experience and in the future of this landmark space,” owner and CEO Steve Finley said in a statement. “We’re excited to give our clients new possibilities for their events while continuing to welcome people to the heart of Philadelphia.”
With large windows overlooking City Hall, the Wanamaker Room will serve as the new cocktail-hour space for weddings at the Crystal Tea Room, a grand ballroom that can fit up to 1,200 people.
The Wanamaker Room will also be available to book for independent events, such as corporate functions, rehearsal dinners, and cocktail receptions, with space for as many as 400 guests.
The new addition marks the latest change for the Wanamaker Building. Last year, its iconic Macy’s closed after occupying the bottom floors for 19 years. Like many brick-and-mortar retailers, the 435,000-square-foot location had struggled since the pandemic, and the company deemed it “underproductive.”
The nearly 1-million-square-foot office portion of the building also took a hit from the pandemic. Its new owners, New York-based TF Cornerstone, have plans to transform the space with renovated offices, loft-style apartments and a rooftop pool.
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The company also wants to bring new retail, entertainment, and fitness outlets to the Macy’s shell, which it has owned since 2019. TF Cornerstone has said it sees the building being “a mixed-use anchor for Center City.”
Finley Catering, a 50-year-old family-run business with roots in the Philly suburbs, leases its ninth-floor space in the Wanamaker Building, recently renewing for another 29 years.
The company also operates the Ballroom at the Ben and Union Trust in the city, as well as two suburban venues, The Ivy at Ellis Preserve and The Ballroom at Ellis Preserve, both in Newtown Square.
