How long does a store have to exist to be a New York institution? Twenty years? Forty? Pearl River Mart has a 50-year heritage in the greater Chinatown area, an iconic Chinese emporium that is a New York institution.
Originally opened by overseas Chinese men and women as a small ‘friendship’ store on Catherine Street, later moved to Elizabeth Street and then to Broadway in Soho, the store featured tasty food and fine Chinese products to Americans while providing Chinese immigrant items of home and a sense of community. Relocations in this half-century include Tribeca and Soho.
Over the past five years, in true New York fashion, the company has been under real estate and land pressures. But its new location at 452 Broadway, the sixth address since its opening in 1971, testifies to the resilience of this family business created by immigrants.
About five years ago Joanne Kwong quit her job as a barrister at Barnard College to take over the business with her in-laws where she works with them from hip to hip – they are still part of Operation Six days a week. Daughter-in-law of the original owners, she is President and second generation owner of Pearl River.
As for the final venue, “There’s a good energy here,” Kwong says of the bright space that opened in May 2021, on Broadway between Grand and Howard. “It’s only a few blocks from Chinatown, the store’s ancestral home.
“We also have a small gallery,” she gestures toward the back of the store. “It’s an Asian-American art gallery.” Donating the space to the community to help promote emerging artists, she continues, “It’s so hard for artists of color to find exhibition space that they don’t have to pay for. Currently, Korean artist Nancy Pappas exhibits paintings and drawings.
In the early evening of the first day of the Lunar New Year, Pearl River celebrates with lion dancers on the sidewalk. Three red and yellow Chinese lions hoisted on poles draw a crowd crowding the sidewalk in front of the Broadway store.
The Wan Chi Ming Lion Dance Troupe, founded in 1973, is an example of generations that endure. “Master Wan was a good friend of Mr. Chen, my father-in-law. His son Warren now leads the troupe and is a good friend of mine,” Kwong says. “We would like these traditions to continue for the next 50 years.”
“Wan Chi Ming is known for his verticality,” Kwong also explains. “You noticed they were high in the air. They’ve been known to soar into the sky.
The troupe lions danced for the group of observers and then, as is tradition, the lion dancers entered the store, followed by the sidewalk celebrants.
Kwong notes that if you missed any of the lion dances, Super Saturday—February 12 is when all the teams come out to Chinatown.
How does the store celebrate the New Year? Obviously they sell tons of red items for home decor and for this year of the tiger, tiger themed items like huge decorative fans and panels or even baby booties with tiger images.
“It was nice to have people we hadn’t seen in a while coming to get ready for their celebrations,” Kwong said.
Several years ago, Pearl River began expanding its brand by offering Chinese clothing, some with more contemporary flourishes on traditional designs, as well as Japanese tableware, food and a full wall of “Hello Kitty” items. “.
Kwong also notes that the two Chelsea Market stores, their additional locations, have helped them weather the pandemic. The Pearl River Mart Foods in Chelsea Market offers food items and prepared meals in the food court. For New Years last weekend, he served a three-course Chinese meal in the heated outdoor bay.