Pearl River Mart

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Pearl River Mart
Private
Industry Retail
Founded September 1971; 53 years ago (1971-09) in New York City, United States
Founder Ming Yi Chen
Headquarters 452 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]

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

References

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External links

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