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Pearl River Mart

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Coordinates: 40°43′06″N 74°00′10″W / 40.7182°N 74.0028°W / 40.7182; -74.0028
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Pearl River Mart
Company typePrivate
IndustryRetail
FoundedSeptember 1971; 53 years ago (1971-09) in New York City, United States
FounderMing Yi Chen
Headquarters452 Broadway,
New York City
,
United States
Key people
Joanne Kwong (President)
Websitepearlriver.com

Pearl River Mart is an Asian-American retail brand and family-run business in New York City.[1][2] The business was founded in 1971 in Chinatown, Manhattan, as Chinese Native Products by Ming Yi Chen and a group of student activists from China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Chen has said that he and his colleagues "wanted to create a small window into the Chinese culture".[3] Its products include braided straw slippers, paper lanterns, cheongsams, cotton Mary Janes, and copies of Mao's Little Red Book.[4][5][6] Pearl River Mart has become a New York City institution.[5] The business has an art gallery in its main location, and hosts in-store events and performances.[7][8]

History

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Pearl River Mart was founded in 1971 by Ming Yi Chen and a group of activists from China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.[9] Diplomatic relations between the United States and China were frozen at the time, and trade was banned due to the Cold War.[10] The founders hoped that the store would improve cultural understanding of China. When trade relations were restored, Pearl River Mart was an early recipient of Chinese goods.[9] The store has occupied various locations since its founding,[4][6][11][12] including a 30,000-square-foot (2,800 m2) location at Broadway and Broome Street in SoHo, Manhattan, described as a "department store".[13]

In March 2016, Pearl River Mart closed due to increasing rent.[5] It re-opened in November 2016 under the leadership of Joanne Kwong, the Chens' daughter-in-law, who graduated from Columbia University and worked as an attorney, a professor at Fordham University School of Law, and VP of communications at Barnard College.[10][14][15][16] In November 2017, the store expanded with a second location in Chelsea Market;[12] a third location opened at the Museum of Chinese in America in January 2019.[17]

In October 2020, the business expanded "within Chelsea Market ... with the addition of Pearl Mart Foods".[18] In addition to a grocery, the location houses three vendors: Mao's Bao, Kimbap Lab, and Tea and Milk.[18]

On April 4, 2021, their main location at 395 Broadway closed "after a dispute with the landlord".[19][20] On May 1, 2021, their main location reopened at 452 Broadway.[21]

Pearl River Mart has been involved with local community efforts, including a fund drive to procure and donate KN95 masks and other PPE to frontline workers during a time PPE was difficult to obtain, and a lantern installation throughout Manhattan Chinatown with the purpose of increasing foot traffic, improving business, and making residents feel safe.[22][19][23]

Pearl River Mart has collaborated with several Asian-American designers and entrepreneurs. In June 2022, the business expanded their fashion line with a capsule that put "a fresh and modern take on traditional Chinese garments".[24] It also has an art gallery, which showcases the work of Asian and Asian-American artists;[2] featured artists have included Arlan Huang, Corky Lee, Chinatown Art Brigade, and Yumi Sakugawa.[25][26][27][28] Artists Space and the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center have been guest curators.[28][29] Recent art exhibitions have included companion exhibitions in Chelsea Market.[30][31]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Chen, Michelle (December 15, 2019). "When a Small Business Takes a Great Leap Forward". Open City Magazine. Asian American Writers' Workshop. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  2. ^ a b Frommer, Pauline. "Pearl River". Frommer's. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  3. ^ Whitford, Emma (April 7, 2015). "Massive Pearl River Mart Will Close Due To Insane Rent Hike". Gothamist. New York Public Radio. Archived from the original on April 24, 2019. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  4. ^ a b Robbins, Liz (April 8, 2015). "At Pearl River, Four Decades of Helping New Arrivals From Asia". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
  5. ^ a b c Pasquarelli, Adrienne (April 6, 2015). "Famed Pearl River Mart will close its SoHo department store". Crain's New York Business. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  6. ^ a b Whitford, Emma (October 26, 2016). "A 'Modernized' Pearl River Mart Is Definitely Opening In Tribeca". Gothamist. New York Public Radio. Archived from the original on April 24, 2019. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  7. ^ Clark, Robert (January 27, 2017). "Lunar New Year Preparations Begin Across City". Spectrum News NY1. Charter Communications. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  8. ^ "The Return of Pearl River Mart". Tribeca Citizen. October 25, 2016. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
  9. ^ a b Chen, Michelle (April 7, 2015). "Good Fortune, Long Life". Open City Magazine. Asian American Writers' Workshop. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
  10. ^ a b Anuta, Joe (October 25, 2016). "Beloved store is back: Pearl River Mart to reopen in TriBeCa next month". Crain's New York Business. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  11. ^ Wroe, Craig (2003). An Actor Prepares— to Live in New York City: How to Live Like a Star Before You Become One. New York: Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 170. ISBN 9780879109868.
  12. ^ a b Picht, Jennifer (September 13, 2017). "Pearl River Mart is opening a new location at Chelsea Market this fall". Time Out New York. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  13. ^ Bellafante, Ginia (February 25, 2003). "In Love With Asia, Muse and Market". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
  14. ^ Heatwole, Anne-Ryan (Summer 2017). "Joanne Kwong '97 Revives Iconic Pearl River Mart". Columbia College Today. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
  15. ^ "Who's Who in Senior Administration: Joanne Kwong". administration.academickeys.com. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
  16. ^ "Odyssey Mentoring Program". columbiamentoring.xinspire.com. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
  17. ^ Perler, Elie (January 30, 2019). "Pearl River Mart's Latest Shop Opens Today at the Museum of Chinese in America". Bowery Boogie. Archived from the original on January 18, 2022. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  18. ^ a b Adams, Erika. "NYC Institution Pearl River Mart Debuts Its First Food-Focused Store Inside Chelsea Market". Eater NYC. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  19. ^ a b Thuy Vo, Lam. "Pearl River Mart Was Never Just a Store. It Was Always a Movement". Documeted NY. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  20. ^ Michalska, Aleksandra. "New York Chinatown's Asian Pearl River Mart closing store next year". Reuters. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  21. ^ "Welcome (Back) to SoHo Broadway, Pearl River Mart!". SoHo Broadway. SoHo Broadway Initiative. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  22. ^ Margolies, Jane. "Yes, There Are Nice Landlords in New York". The New York Times. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  23. ^ Krueger, Alyson. "Will 250 Lanterns Be Enough to Save Chinatown?". The New York Times. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  24. ^ Grimes, Collette. "Pearl River Mart Launches Summer 2022 Collection – Putting a modern spin on traditional Chinese clothing". hypebae. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  25. ^ James Havis, Richard. "50 years of Asian-American art, community and protest celebrated in archive exhibition by New York artist and activist Arlan Huang". South China Morning Post. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  26. ^ Rong, Xiaoqing. "Chinese in America Captured by Corky Lee's Lens". Sing Tao Daily. Retrieved November 1, 2019 – via Voices of NY.
  27. ^ Lindberg, Kari (January 19, 2017). "Art reflects reality in Chinatown exhibit on housing". The Villager. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  28. ^ a b Chen Ho, Jean (December 6, 2018). "Rituals of Style: An Interview with Yumi Sakugawa". Asian American Writers' Workshop. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  29. ^ Velimirović, Andreja (October 26, 2017). "Buy an Artwork, Help a Gallery – A Fundraising Exhibition by Artists Space". Widewalls. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  30. ^ Haines, Anna. "How Pearl River Mart Champions Asian American And Pacific Islander Representation". Forbes. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  31. ^ "Corridor Glance: Paintings by Arlan Huang". Chelsea Market. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
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40°43′06″N 74°00′10″W / 40.7182°N 74.0028°W / 40.7182; -74.0028

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