The station opened on December 31, 1936 as part of the Independent Subway System's Queens Boulevard Line.

[6] The line was constructed using the cut-and-cover tunneling method, and to allow pedestrians to cross, temporary bridges were built over the trenches.

[12] Construction was further delayed due to a strike in 1935, instigated by electricians opposing wages paid by the General Railway Signal Company.

[12] On December 31, 1936, the IND Queens Boulevard Line was extended by eight stops, and 3.5 miles (5.6 km), from its previous terminus at Roosevelt Avenue to Union Turnpike.

[19]: 145 [20]: 23  An easement was granted so the line could pass under the old St. James Church building at the southwest corner of Broadway and 51st Avenue.

To allow the subway line to curve into Queens Boulevard from Broadway, the northeast corner of the two streets was removed, in addition to some stores.

[19]: 145 [20]: 23  The Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced in April 2024 that it would make esthetic improvements to the station during mid-2024 as part of its Re-New-Vation program.

[32][33] Both platforms have a medium Cerulean blue tile band with a black border and mosaic name tablets reading "GRAND AVE. – NEWTOWN" broken onto two lines in white sans serif lettering on a black background and Cerulean blue border.

[36][37] Small tile captions reading "GRAND" in white lettering on black run below the trim line, and directional signs in the same style are present below some of the name tablets.

[38][31] Concrete-clad columns, painted blue, run along both platforms at regular intervals with alternating ones having the standard black name plates in white lettering.

Originally, there were two fare control areas at each end, which is clear from the presence of two closed staircases at the Manhattan-bound side.