Finley Catering Expanded Crystal Tea Room Footprint
Event operators can learn from the company's 29-year lease commitment to secure long-term capacity in historic venues.
Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Openings & Closings
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Finley Catering has announced a 5,000-square-foot expansion of its Crystal Tea Room in Philadelphia’s Wanamaker Building. The new space, designed to host cocktail hours for up to 400 guests, is expected to open in early 2027.
Why it matters
By locking in a 29-year lease for the new Wanamaker Room, the operator is investing in long-term venue capacity and premium event offerings in a high-demand urban center. The expansion allows for improved traffic flow and revenue per event by creating a dedicated cocktail space adjacent to the main ballroom.
The firm secured a 29-year lease extension to accommodate the 5,000-square-foot addition, which will serve groups of up to 400 guests. This milestone comes as the company celebrates its 50th anniversary, building on an operation that began at the Crystal Tea Room in 2001.
The players
Finley Catering
A long-standing event and hospitality provider that has managed the Crystal Tea Room since 2001.
Wanamaker Building
A historic commercial property in Philadelphia serving as the location for the firm's expanded venue footprint.
The details
The project centers on the new Wanamaker Room, which features direct views of City Hall and serves as a functional expansion of the existing Crystal Tea Room. By adding dedicated space for pre-event cocktail hours, the catering firm can move guests through the venue more efficiently before dinner service in the main ballroom. The move effectively deepens the firm's presence in the historic Wanamaker Building for nearly three decades.
Timeline
1976: Finley Catering was founded.
2001: Finley Catering began operating the Crystal Tea Room.
2026: Finley Catering marks its 50th anniversary.
Early 2027: The Wanamaker Room expansion is expected to open.
Market Landscape
The expansion builds on the operator's 2001 entry into the historic Wanamaker Building. This long-term lease strategy mirrors a growing trend among event firms to secure multi-decade access to iconic, high-capacity urban real estate.
Owners of event-driven businesses should evaluate whether their current lease terms offer enough runway to justify significant facility investments. Prioritizing long-term stability in flagship locations can serve as a hedge against future commercial rent volatility.
The takeaway
Operational expansion requires balancing immediate demand with long-term lease security. Operators should track the facility's flow and layout efficiency to identify where physical upgrades can maximize guest throughput and event capacity.
Further reading
For more on shifts in local venue capacity, visit Openings & Closings.
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