Chicago Tribune, 6/29:
Amtrak plans Union Station makeover
Amtrak is betting millions of dollars to transform Union Station into an entertainment and tourist destination, complete with restaurants and outdoor cafes, retail, a hotel and even a grocery store, Getting Around has learned.
Amtrak wants to open up thousands of square feet of space long closed to the public, literally throwing open the doors to the 90-year-old building in a bid to return the landmark station to its heyday in the 1940s and '50s.
Hidden deep inside Union Station are palatial rooms with 33-foot-high ceilings and assorted alcoves that have been mothballed for decades. During the golden age of passenger rail, those spaces were filled with ritzy restaurants, coffee shops (including the fabled Harvey House), a dance hall, tailoring shops specializing in custom suits, law offices and more.
SNIP
Amtrak's first step in its bid to generate new revenue is the debut of the Legacy Club, a room patterned after airline frequent-flier lounges. The Legacy Club is open for business, located in a room formerly called the Union Gallery, just off the southwest corner of the Great Hall. For a $10 daily fee, passengers can relax in comfortable new furniture, enjoy complimentary nonalcoholic drinks and access Wi-Fi. Amtrak coach passengers also receive priority boarding. A Legacy Club membership plan, designed for frequent users, is being developed, Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari said.
More here.
