06/25/2026
Last night, Shaver Hall celebrated its Opening Party with nearly 1,400 people gathered inside a building that has been part of New York’s story for more than a century. ✨🥂
Three years ago, this was an empty space and a big idea. Last night, it was full of people experiencing Shaver Hall for the first time. 🙌
FB Society co-founder and CEO Jack Gibbons Jack Gibbons took the stage to talk about his first look at this historic space and envisioning a gathering place for the community. Randy DeWitt Randy DeWitt spoke about the spirit behind the name and the woman who inspired it. Amazon’s Sean Lee talked about the shared vision for Midtown Manhattan that made it possible. Clare Reichenbach Clare Reichenbach , CEO of the The James Beard Foundation James Beard Foundation , spoke about food as connection. Council Member Gale A. Brewer talked about what it means to breathe new life into a building this iconic.
And then Broadway Dreams Broadway Dreams performed a brand new original musical about the woman whose name is on the door: Dorothy Shaver, Fifth Avenue’s First Lady.
What filled that room last night was years of hard work made visible. Developers, designers, architects, branding teams, chefs, eatery partners, community leaders, and a team that turned every setback into a stronger version of the plan.
Guests got a taste of the eateries and saw what this building has become.
The vision is now a reality and we can’t wait to share it!
📸 Photo credit: Eric Vitale Eric Vitale Photography