Century 21 to reopen flagship store in the Financial District
Photo by ajay_suresh on Wikimedia
A favorite shopping destination of New Yorkers is coming back home. After undergoing a major renovation, and filing for bankruptcy in 2020, the famed department store Century 21 will return to its flagship location at 22 Cortlandt Street in the Financial District next spring. The new store will encompass four main floors, offering men’s, women’s, and children’s apparel, including footwear, outerwear, handbags, accessories, and fragrances, according to a press release. And to emphasize its connection to the city, Century 21 is adding “NYC” to its logo.
Century 21 will be partnering with global premium experiences company Legends in order to create a “revitalized shopping experience” for the store’s customers both in-store and online. According to Women Wears Daily, Legends will be handling technology, store operations, logistics, and staffing.
“Legends is proud to partner with Century 21 to bring the beloved retail experience back to New York City,” Dan Smith, president at Legends Hospitality, said. “Working side by side with the Century 21 team, we have enhanced the in-store and e-commerce experience and are excited to ‘open the doors’ to a global audience in 2023.”
According to Curbed, Century 21 is betting on a large mass of Wall Street that will be returning to the Financial District next year and visiting the department store.
“Century 21 is, and always will be, a New York City brand. Our flagship store has been a long-time symbol of this city’s resilience and unwavering spirit,” Raymond Gindi, Co-Chief Executive Officer at Century 21, said.
“In our 60-year history we have only closed our doors twice, once after the devastation of 9/11 and then again during the COVID-19 pandemic. But like the true New Yorkers we are, we have persevered. We could not be more excited to bring Century 21 back home, delivering the same products and value to customers, in partnership with Legends.”
In September 2020, Century 21 filed for bankruptcy and announced it would be closing all of its stores permanently, as reported by the New York Post. The shopping chain blamed insurance companies for its demise, stating that its bankruptcy filing was due to its insurers turning their backs on them at the “most critical time.”
