Acadia Realty Trust and Washington Square Partners' City Point was inaugurated yesterday with the unveiling of the 1.8M SF, Downtown Brooklyn mixed-use complex’s Century 21 location and a permanent, 40-foot-by-40-foot art installation.
Totaling 140k SF across four floors, Century 21's 11th US location, and fifth NYC spot, is the first full-line department store to open on Fulton Street in more than 50 years.
In addition to having its typical fare, the store will also feature a MAC Cosmetics station, a LXR&CO luxury vintage boutique and an in-store Brooklyn Roasting Co cafe. The latter, pictured here, is floored with reused planks from a basketball court.
The store had its origins back in 2010, Century 21 chief revenue officer Larry Mentzer tells Bisnow, when the department store giant first started discussions with Acadia. Believing City Point was going to be a catalyst for Downtown Brooklyn's redevelopment, Century 21 signed a lease only months later.
"We've been in Bay Ridge for more than 50 years," Larry says. "We believe in Brooklyn."
But, as time has gone on, Larry says the development will be less of a catalyst and more of a continuation of Brooklyn's decade-long gentrification, and Century 21 plans to appeal to all the new demographics that live and work in the area.
"Whether it's college kids or moms, we're trying to make sure the store is a win for everyone," he says.
What the location did catalyze is Century 21's new design palette, with concrete floors and exposed ceilings, which was then used in several other locations that came online during City Point's development.
Called "Fabulous Phil," the mural was created by Steven and William Ladd and their community-craft-based workshops known as “Scrollathons.”
This is the brothers’ first civic work and largest piece, and their second integration of fine art and creative community involvement. The installation is even named after one of the contributors.
Century 21 will open next Tuesday, Oct. 11, and will soon be joined by the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, Target, Trader Joe's, DeKalb Market Hall and Fortina.
