Century 21, the department store chain that declared bankruptcy in September, will close its doors in Morristown on Dec. 6, 2020.
The announcement was posted on the chain’s website:
Online sales have ended.
Founded by Al and Sonny Gindi in Manhattan in 1961, Century 21 has 13 stores in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Florida. Paramus and Elizabeth are the other New Jersey venues. All are closing.
Management blamed insurance companies for failing to pay $175 million in claims to keep the chain afloat during the pandemic.
Century 21 opened its Morristown branch on North Park Place in 2002, after Gensler, the renowned architectural firm, redesigned the four-floor, 132,000-square-foot building that formerly housed Macy’s and Bamberger’s.
The coronavirus has been deadly for many other retailers: J.C. Penney, Lord & Taylor, Pier 1 Imports, Modell’s Sporting Goods, Nieman Marcus and Brooks Brothers are among dozens that have filed for bankruptcy.
What are your memories of Century 21?
