(New York) It survived September 11 and the COVID-19 pandemic: Century21, New York’s iconic department store for finding brand-name clothing at discount prices, reopened its doors on Tuesday, in euphoria.
Customers lined up at 6 a.m., others came from far away and a aficionada even more stampeded in front of this huge business facing the new district of the World Trade Center in Manhattan than when entering the “Sistine Chapel”.
Under the red balloons and the applause of the Gindi family, owner of this historic New York symbol of mass distribution, the first customers cried out with joy, after three years of closure due to the health crisis.
“It means a lot to the people of New York. At the time of September 11 (2001), the store closed and when it reopened everyone was so happy! So seeing it again after COVID-19 feels like a rebirth for New York and I’m excited to be back there to do some shopping enthused Gale Kaplan, 63, from Brooklyn.
For women, men and children, you can find all the clothes and accessories at Century21, a company set up in 1961 and whose first store was born in Brooklyn. And you can find all the brands there like Valentino, Louis Vuitton, Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Guess, Levi’s, Kate Spade, Helmut Lang… but at the end of their stock and at unbeatable reduced prices.
” You can find anything there ”
Melody White, 62, who came at 6 a.m. from Queens, another popular and multicultural borough of New York, was “very, very upset when they closed. Because it’s the best store, you can find the best products, beautiful clothes. You can find anything there “.
Gale Kaplan was even “happier queuing for the opening of Century21 than doing it for the Sistine Chapel” in Rome.
“That’s how happy I am! “.
Also all smiles, Vice President of Century21 Eddie Gindi assured that this May 16 was “historic, an incredible day”, more than 20 years after having almost disappeared in the attacks of September 11 and the destruction of the two World Trade towers. Center. And three years after closing for bankruptcy due to the pandemic that brought New York to its knees in 2020 and 2021.
“We don’t take that for granted,” warned the entrepreneur.
The mayor of New York, Eric Adams, who has made the economic and tourist rebound of the megalopolis the heart of his policy – despite inflation – was also celebrating, giving the Gindi family a hug in this store that looks like a giant clothing fair.
“When they had to close, it broke their hearts. They only thought of one thing: how to come back, how to reopen, how to serve people? It was an anchor point for our tourists, they came here, lined up to do some shopping and admire the good products that we had everywhere”, launched the city councilor.
For Mr. Gindi, the reopening of Century21 “revives the spirit of New York like no other business can. Because we are part of the fabric of the city”, one of the first economic and commercial centers on the planet.