New anchor department store coming to Philadelphia’s Market East

Century 21 is coming to the Strawbridge and Clothier space in the Gallery Mall on East Market Street that has been vacant since 2006.

You might think real estate when you hear the name, but this Century 21 is a major department store says Joe Coradino, who heads up the Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust, which owns the space.

“They are really a destination retail experience for high end fashion and with this transaction, with Century 21 coming to the Gallery our vision to create Philadelphia as the only transit oriented, retail anchored multi-use property offering accessible and artisan food is becoming a reality,” Coradino said.

Coradino calls Century 21 the first department store to open here in decades and says it will occupy 100 thousand square feet in the old Strawbridge’s building.

Mayor Michael Nutter says this shows Philadelphia is on the move. 

“This is an important first step as we re-imagine the landscape of Market East,” Nutter said. “Century 21’s decision to open a store in Philadelphia is another out of town expression of confidence in our great city, a city which is increasingly attracting national and international attention.”

The store is expected to open by October.