Windows on the World

Windows on the World was a special set of dining and entertainment places located on the top floors, the 106th and 107th, of the North Tower (Building One) of the old World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan, New York City, United States. It had a big restaurant named Windows on the World, a smaller one called Wild Blue (which used to be called "Cellar in the Sky"), a fun bar named The Greatest Bar on Earth (once known as the Hors d'Oeuvrerie), a wine school, and rooms for private events. All of this was created by a restaurant expert named Joe Baum and first designed by Warren Platner. It covered a huge space of 50,000 square feet (4,600 m²) in the North Tower. There was also a smaller dining area called the Skydive Restaurant on the 44th floor, meant for office workers, which was also run by the same team.

The restaurants opened their doors on April 19, 1976, and sadly, they were destroyed during the September 11 attacks. Everyone who was working there that day did not survive, as the crash of American Airlines Flight 11 made it impossible to escape from the 92nd floor and above.

Operations

The main dining room at Windows on the World faced north and east, giving guests beautiful views of the Manhattan skyline. Men were required to wear jackets, and if they forgot, the restaurant would lend them one so they could enjoy their meal in the main room. Many parts of the restaurant, like the dishes and lights, were designed by Milton Glaser.

There was also a smaller, cozier dining area called Wild Blue on the south side. The bar stretched along part of the south side and even over to the east side, offering amazing views of southern Manhattan. From there, you could see where the Hudson and East River meet, as well as Liberty State Park, Ellis Island, Staten Island, and the Verrazzano–Narrows Bridge. The kitchens and meeting rooms were located on the 106th floor.

Windows on the World temporarily closed after damage from a event in 1993. After repairs costing US$25 million, it reopened in 1996. In 1999, the smaller area called Cellar in the Sky became an American steakhouse named "Wild Blue." By 2000, it was earning US$37 million a year, making it the most successful restaurant in the United States.

The restaurant had several executive chefs over time, with Michael Lomonaco being the last one.

September 11 attacks

Main article: September 11 attacks

Windows on the World was destroyed when the North Tower collapsed during the September 11 attacks. The restaurant was busy with breakfast customers and a group having a meeting when American Airlines Flight 11 hit the North Tower between floors 93 and 99 at 8:46 a.m. Everyone in the restaurant could not escape because the ways to get out, like stairs and elevators, were blocked by the crash. Sadly, everyone who was in the restaurant that day did not survive.

There were 72 staff members there, including assistant general manager Christine Olender, who made urgent calls for help. Sixteen employees from a company called Incisive Media and 76 other guests were also there. The executive director of the Port Authority, Neil Levin, was having breakfast as well. After around 9:40 a.m., no more calls for help came from the restaurant. The last people to leave before the plane hit were Michael Nestor, Liz Thompson, Geoffrey Wharton, and Richard Tierney, who all left together in an elevator at 8:44 a.m. and survived.

The person who owned the World Trade Center, Larry Silverstein, usually had breakfast meetings at Windows on the World. He was supposed to be there on that morning but had to go to a doctor's appointment instead, which saved his life.

Impact

Reception

Windows on the World had mixed reviews in its final years. A food critic from the New York Times said that while the restaurant wasn’t just for eating, even picky eaters could enjoy dining there. She gave the restaurant two out of four stars, meaning it was “very good” but not “excellent” or “extraordinary.” A writer in 2009 said that “At Windows, New York was the main course.” In 2014, another writer compared the restaurant’s food to its replacement at the new One World Observatory.

Legacy

After the attacks on September 11, a fund was created to help families of people who worked in food, drinks, and hosting who were killed. The chef and owner of Windows on the World helped start this fund. In 2006, some former staff opened a new restaurant called Colors in Manhattan to honor their coworkers. The original location closed in 2017 but reopened in 2019. Plans to reopen Windows on the World at the new One World Trade Center were canceled in 2011. Instead, the new building has eateries named ONE Dine, ONE Mix, and ONE Café.

Cultural influence

Some people thought a famous photo from September 11, called The Falling Man, showed an employee from Windows on the World, though his identity is not known for sure. Books and a video game have also mentioned the restaurant. A novel published in 2005 tells the story of two brothers and their father in the restaurant on September 11. Another book from 2012 imagines life for the staff and visitors that morning. A book for younger readers from 2021 is about a boy and his father who were in the restaurant on September 11, 2001. A video game planned for 2025 includes a mission to stop a crime that happened early on September 11 in New York City, and the player visits Windows on the World.