Century 21 is a chain of department stores. All of its merchandise is sold less than
the usual department store price. There are stores located in Long Island,
Brooklyn, Morristown, Paramus, and Secaucus, but the largest location is in Lower
Manhattan, across the street from the World Trade Center site. Century 21 is
famous for having deeply discounted designer clothing, accessories, shoes, and
housewares.
Century 21 was founded in 1875. The flagship location was
located in Lower Manhattan. The flagship store became an emotional flashpoint
during and after the 911 Terrorist attacks. The store was evacuated after the
first plane hit the World Trade Center, and the interior was heavily damaged from
the implosion of the twin towers. Initially it was not certain that the store
would be rebuilt, but the owners opted to remain at the same site and the store
was renovated and reopened in the summer of 2002. Thousands of people waited
hours on the morning of the reopening so they could have a sales receipt from
that day. To many the stores reopening was considered pivotal to the rebirth of
the trade center site. |
