Worcester officials have officially launched the search for a new operator for Union Station’s Grand Hall and restaurant space, setting up what could become a closely watched competition over one of the city’s most recognizable public venues.
The Worcester Redevelopment Authority this week issued a formal Request for Proposals (RFPs) seeking a tenant to lease and operate roughly 15,535 square feet inside Union Station, including the Grand Hall event space, restaurant and commissary area, and outdoor patio.
The move comes as Maxwell Luciano’s — the longtime restaurant and event operator that has anchored Union Station for nearly two decades — approaches the expiration of its current lease this summer.
But despite confusion that followed earlier reports about the lease situation, Maxwell Luciano’s says it is not preparing to leave.
“Maxwell Luciano’s is not closing,” the restaurant said in a statement posted to social media earlier this year.
The statement added that while the current lease is set to expire in June, the restaurant “fully intend[s] to renew it” and plans to participate in the Worcester Redevelopment Authority’s RFP process “while maintaining our long-standing presence in Union Station’s Grand Hall.”
“Any implication that we are preparing to close or vacate the space is incorrect,” the restaurant said in the statement. “Our dedication to serving the Worcester community remains steadfast.”
The city’s formal RFP process nonetheless signals a significant transition point for the landmark transportation hub and event venue.
Originally built in 1911 and restored between 1998 and 2000, Union Station today functions both as a transportation center and as a high-profile event space that hosts weddings, banquets, conferences and community gatherings.
According to the city, the available lease space includes approximately 9,180 square feet in the Grand Hall, along with more than 6,000 square feet of restaurant and commissary operations and additional patio space on the first floor of the building.
In a statement released this week, the city said the RFP is open to “qualified individuals, companies, or organizations” capable of operating the banquet, conference and restaurant facilities.
The Worcester Redevelopment Authority had previously indicated earlier this year that it intended to solicit proposals once Maxwell Luciano’s lease neared expiration.
At the time, WRA Chair Michael Angelini described the process as “an important opportunity for the WRA to maximize the use of the space and showcase this incredible community asset,” according to a city announcement.
The authority also previously thanked Maxwell Luciano’s for its tenure at Union Station.
“We greatly appreciate Maxwell Luciano’s tenancy and stewardship over the last 18 years,” WRA Chief Executive Officer Peter Dunn said in a February statement.
Under the newly issued RFP, proposals are due by June 26. The city has also scheduled two public tours of the property later this month and in early June for prospective applicants.
For now, Maxwell Luciano’s appears intent on remaining part of Union Station’s future — even as the city formally opens the door to competing proposals for one of Worcester’s most visible hospitality spaces.
