Century 21 Reportedly Moving Into UWS Barnes & Noble Space; Rep Denies Rumor
By Nate Freeman August 31, 2010 9:57 pm
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With Barnes & Noble set to vacate its premises at Broadway at 66th due to skyrocketing rent, could another retail chain with a tendency toward giant storefronts be taking its place? MyUpperWest is reporting a rumor that department store Century 21 will fill the empty racks of books with racks of discount faux-designer duds. However, when reached by The Observer, a representative for Century 21 denied that the company was opening a store in that location.
The clothing juggernaut would likely not appease those already mourning the loss of their neighborhood’s Barnes & Noble. A story in The New York Times found that the many fans of the store’s uptown branch would come to buy books, attend readings, or just “kill time.”
If the rumor turns out to be just that — a rumor — those living near the new Broadway and 66th location of Century 21 will have to miss out on the swarms of tourists who currently flood the clothing distributor’s downtown location, the chain’s flagship store. To many, even just killing time would be preferable.
nfreeman@observer.com
