Located directly across from the World Trade Center site, Century 21 is well-known as the most comprehensive discount department store in the city. After suffering severe damages on 9/11, the Financial District mainstay bounced back with characteristic style, attracting thousands of shoppers daily to the deep markdowns—up to 75% off—on designer labels for men, women, and children. Find names like Hugo Boss, Versace and D&G in the men's department; two flights up, browse through avant-garde European and American designers like Marni, Helmut Lang, and Miu Miu. Seasoned bargain-hunters go early, early, early to avoid the mid-day madhouse of families with strollers and deal-dazzled tourists (not to mention lunch-hour shoppers) struggle to navigate the multi-level floors and narrow aisles. Though most of the merchandise is from last season or earlier, expect long lines for dressing rooms and possible subertufge over the last Narciso Rodriguez shift dress, Marc Jacobs sundress, or Missoni knit top.
Key Departments
Home - Linens
The store's lower level houses an excellent selection of designer bedding, from Calvin Klein duvet covers to Ralph Lauren 400 thread-count sheets.
Men's Formalwear
New Yorkers flock here to find great looks that won’t break their budget (everything is 25 to 75 percent off retail prices). Look for lines like Hugo Boss and Kenneth Cole.
It is one of the most convenient and hence, the busiest, discount stores in Manhattan - the price caters for low to middle income brackets. The range of goods is excellent, but the quality can be questionable at times (the handbags are really, umm, ugly. Some of the Cole Haan bags are quite nice though, although not cheap enough as one would expect in a discount store). The men's attires are really good, but for ladies, well, it is a bit of a mess. You can find anything from cheap $9.90 tee-shirt to $2500+ Emilio Pucci dress. Some of the goods are really outdated, other looks like they belong in a seconds or a donation bin (buyers, beware of wear and tear and broken zippers on some items). Occasionally you will find things that are really nice at a reasonable price (the Juicy Couture selection are recommended). One will really have to spend a considerable amount of time to comb through everything, as it is unlikely anything will catch your eyes on first sight. ItÂ’s a bit of a mess, but hey, it might be worth it! Good luck!