Inside the Re-Opened Century21 Store in Lower Manhattan

Century21 is back! The beloved NYC department store hosted a grand re-opening ceremony on Tuesday afternoon at its flagship location in the Financial District, 22 Cortlandt Street, just a block away from One World Trade Center. The store is packed with off-price luxury fashion, accessories, and a few pieces of art that show love for New York City.

As you can see from the photo above, New Yorkers were excited to shop at the new store. Ella Leitner, an Untapped New York reader who was at the opening day festivities told us it was “a typical NYC madhouse where you’ve gotta know how to navigate the store to get the best deals.” Despite the chaos, Leitner says, “It’s good to see savvy and diverse New Yorkers, some who brought their own foldable shopping carts (as only a true New Yorker does!) waiting in long lines, striking up conversations, and hunting for designer bargains en masse.”

The re-opened store has debuted a new logo that highlights its connection to New York. Instead of reading “Century21 Department Sotres,” the sign above the entrance now reads “Century21 NYC.” Inside, the New York love continues with three large-scale murals by NYC-based artist Timothy Goodman. The black-and-white works feature
objects and words that celebrate the city and accentuate Century 21’s place in the fashion scene. Located near the checkout area, one of the murals reads, “I’m in love with NYC and I don’t care who knows it. I love every single street and building, attitude, and outfit.”

The other Goodman murals are made of icons and phrases related to New York City and the Century21 stores drawn in thick black curves. Looking closely at the symbols, you’ll notice a basketball, a taxi cab, a piece of pizza, and nods to the store’s history, like the year of its founding, 1961. Places in New York City like the five boroughs and the Hudson River get a shoutout, as do neighborhoods and streets like TriBeCa and Broadway.

The re-opened Cortlandt Street store features four main floors of the original flagship space. Throughout the renovated 100,000-square-foot space, shoppers will find clothing for men, women, and children, with new merchandise arriving weekly. Among the racks and shelves, you’ll find luxury apparel, footwear, outerwear, handbags, accessories, and fragrances from brands like Fendi, Givenchy, LoveShackFancy, Sovere, Theory, Hugo Boss, and more. Shoppers can also find pieces by New York-based designers including ALC, Lagence, Simkhai, LoveShackFancy, Sovere, and Mon Renn.

Century21 has been a fixture of New York City since 1961 when the first location opened on 86th Street in Bay Ridge. The retail chain was founded by two cousins, Sonny and Al Gindi, and soon expanded to multiple locations across the country. During the pandemic in 2020, Century21 was forced to close all of its locations after filing for bankruptcy.

In the summer of 2022, the store announced on Instagram that it planned to return in the Spring of 2023. The store is still run by the Gindi family, with support from the experiences company LEGENDS. Mayor Eric Adams was on hand for the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Opening day festivities started at 12:00 PM ET and early shoppers got to take pictures in a runway-inspired photo booth, pick up personalized NYC-themed patches and pins, see fashion illustrations from renowned artist Izak Zenou and enjoy complimentary, classic NYC treats. See more photos of the new store in the gallery below!

Next, check out 10 Lost Department Stores in NYC and Photos: The Original Century21 in Bay Ridge