Local New York City retail legend Century 21 is making a comeback, relaunching in Spring 2023 at its flagship location downtown across from the World Trade Center. The retailer and purveyor of off-price luxury fashion has teamed with global premium experiences company Legends to return to physical retail.
The chain, which at one point had 13 stores in New York City and environs, filed for bankruptcy and shuttered all of its locations in September 2020, citing lack of payment on its business interruption insurance (due to enforced closing as a result of COVID-19) as a cause. The flagship had also been closed in 2001 as a result of the 9/11 attacks, but had received insurance payments at that time.
“Century 21 is, and always will be, a New York City brand,” said Raymond Gindi, Century 21 co-chief executive officer. “Our flagship store has been a long-time symbol of this city’s resilience and unwavering spirit. 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.”
Legends boasts a prominent footprint in the New York City market, overseeing retail and hospitality operations at landmark establishments including Yankee Stadium (New York Yankees and NYCFC), One World Observatory and the MLB Flagship Store. As a global, data-driven holistic sales service provider, Legends has operated brick and mortar, pop-ups, e-commerce and in-venue retail experiences for renowned brands such as the NFL, MLB, PGA, NASCAR, Real Madrid, Dallas Cowboys and the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, among many others.
This partnership will couple Legends omnichannel operating expertise with Century 21’s curation of designer brands at value prices, to bring fans of the iconic brand an enhanced shopping experience in-store and online.
“Legends is proud to partner with Century 21 to bring the beloved retail experience back to New York City,” said Dan Smith, president, Legends Hospitality. “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.”
As a result of this partnership, Century 21 will introduce a more streamlined customer shopping experience through in-store upgrades and an elevated, e-commerce presence, which will debut at the same time the brick-and-mortar store opens its doors. The re-opened Cortlandt Street location will span the four main floors of the original downtown space and will offer men’s, women’s and children’s designer apparel, footwear, outerwear, handbags, accessories and fragrances.
