New York-based Century 21 store coming to The Gallery

The former Strawbridge & Clothier building as seen from Market Street and S. 8th Street in Center City. Credit: Wiki Commons.

The former Strawbridge & Clothier building will once again host a department store.

City officials on Thursday announced New York-based Century 21 Department Stores will open a retail outlet in the hulking limestone building at 8th and Market Streets in Center City.

The discount apparel store will occupy about 100,000 sq. ft. of the historic building. It will fill 16,000 sq. ft. on the ground floor as well as the entire second floor of the 80-year-old building.

Joe Coradino, CEO of PREIT — Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust — which owns The Gallery at Market East, said “Everybody thinks Century 21 is a place where you buy a house, well, it’s a clothing store.”

He said the store would open in October, but did not give any specifics on the number of jobs the store would create. In regards to the length of the lease, “We don’t really give that out,” Coradino said.

Coradino added that the possibility of a casino being built on Market Street was “Great,” but would not elaborate.

According to the Inquirer the new store will cost Interstate General Media – which owns the Inquirer, Daily News and Philly.com – the lobby to its headquarters at 801 Market Street.

Mayor Michael Nutter said Century 21 will be a keystone in the redevelopment of Market East.

“Revitalizing Market East,” he continued, “Has and continues to be a major priority for our administration.”

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