STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- After Sears shuttered its last foothold in the Staten Island Mall after 46 years in September, Century 21 Department Store has announced it will occupy the first-floor space in the New Springville shopping center.

A sign displayed at the former Sears entrance on Saturday announces the pending opening of Century 21 Department Store, which is known for high-end merchandise at discount prices.

A spokesperson for Century 21 didnt immediately have details about the opening.

But this is not the first time the department store brand was available in the Mall.

A pop up" Century 21 EDITION opened in 2018, offering a large selection of womens accessories -- mainly high-end designer handbags. The retailer had partnered with LXRandCo to offer shoppers an assortment of vintage designer bags, accessories, jewelry and watches from top brands such as Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Hermes.

Century 21 is a 55-year-old iconic department store to which Staten Islanders have long traveled to locations in Brooklyn, Manhattan and New Jersey to snag bargains on designer clothing.

THE DEMISE OF SEARS

The Sears closure was the result of Sears Holdings filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in October 2018. At this time, only the lower level was still occupied by Sears. Primark -- a 50-year-old company founded in Dublin -- opened one of its first U.S. stores in the second-floor space formerly occupied by Sears in 2017.

Primark saw an opportunity to expand in the United States as part of Sears downsizing operation. The retailer occupies 55,000 square feet -- the entire second floor of the former Sears -- in the Mall.

Sears first started its downsizing in the Mall when it closed its auto body shop in 2016, which had been open since March 1973. The 23,000-square-foot space became the new home of a Container Store, which opened in May 2016.

MALL RENOVATION

The Malls changing face is part of its 242,000-square-foot expansion, which was unveiled two years ago. Among the new retailers at the Mall are an AMC Movie Theater, and Lidl, a supermarket with German roots.

Eateries that opened as part of the renovation include Shake Shack, Dave & Busters, The Melt Shop and Chipotle Mexican Grill, Tommys Tap + Tavern, Chick-fil-A and more.

In addition, P.F. Changs -- a worldwide chain restaurant known for its Asian-style wok cooking -- plans to open its first Staten Island location in September in the Mall.

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Century 21 Department Store to open on Staten Island - SILive.com