Windows on the World opened in 1976 on the 107th floor of the World Trade Center’s North Tower. The restaurant was renowned for its floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked Manhattan, Brooklyn, and New Jersey.
It served food from all over the world and hired an globally diverse restaurant staff. With its celestial views and adventurous menu, it was hard to find a better (and more chic) date spot. Its ending, as you might guess, was tragic.
The restaurant was destroyed on September 11, 2001. All 72 restaurant staff present died that morning, along with 76 guests and other workers. The executive director of the Port Authority was among those who was eating breakfast at the time of the attacks. Some believe that the famous “The Falling Man” image taken was of Jonathan Briley, an audio technician at the restaurant.
In 2006, former staffers opened up a restaurant in Manhattan called Colors, which served as a tribute to the fallen Windows on the World staff.
Here are some amazing vintage photos from the restaurant, including the first from its founding year in 1976.
