Pearl River Mart

Last updated

Pearl River Mart
Company type Private
Industry Retail
FoundedSeptember 1971;52 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)
Website pearlriver.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]

Contents

History

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

  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. 1 2 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. 1 2 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. 1 2 3 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. 1 2 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. 1 2 Chen, Michelle (April 7, 2015). "Good Fortune, Long Life". Open City Magazine. Asian American Writers' Workshop . Retrieved April 24, 2019.
  10. 1 2 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. 1 2 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. 1 2 Adams, Erika. "NYC Institution Pearl River Mart Debuts Its First Food-Focused Store Inside Chelsea Market". Eater NYC. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  19. 1 2 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. 1 2 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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