Companies are lining up for a chance to run the observation deck at the top of 1 World Trade Center.
The Post has learned that at least eight of 10 groups are expected to respond to a request for proposal by May 7, with an operator likely to be chosen over the summer. The winner will take over the 100th, 101st and 102nd floors of the building and be able to run restaurants as part of their operations.
The Durst Organization, which has partnered with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to operate and manage the 104-story tower, will be reviewing the responses. Durst declined to comment.
The 100th floor observatory is expected to become a cash cow for the building as millions of visitors are already making pilgrimages to the Sept. 11 memorial pools and eventually a museum. Prior to 2001, the previous WTC observatory had 2 million visitors. Public restaurants will eventually open on the 101st and 102nd floors.
In regulatory filings, the Empire State Building owners revealed they net over $40 million a year from observatory fees.