Windows on the World, Restaurant on 107th floor of North Tower, Manhattan, US
Windows on the World was a fine-dining establishment on the 107th floor of the World Trade Center's North Tower in Manhattan. Floor-to-ceiling windows surrounded the space and gave diners unobstructed views of the city, the harbor, and the neighboring states.
The restaurant opened in April 1976 under the direction of restaurateur Joe Baum and became one of the city's most recognized dining destinations. It operated continuously until September 11, 2001, when the attacks took the lives of 73 staff members.
The name referred to the floor-to-ceiling windows that wrapped around the building and offered views in all directions. Staff provided loaner jackets to guests who arrived in casual wear, maintaining the formal character of the dining room.
Reservations were typically required several weeks in advance due to high demand, especially for window seating. Guests arriving during peak evening hours could expect long waits even with confirmed bookings.
The space housed several separate venues including Wild Blue and The Greatest Bar on Earth, each with its own menu and seating arrangements. In 2000, it generated revenue of $37 million, making it the highest-earning restaurant in the entire United States that year.
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