At the time, Friendship Stores in China were places where only foreigners were allowed to shop–Chinese people were prohibited from entering–so my father-in-law being a radical turned the idea on its head and created a place in NYC where all were welcome and hopefully friendships would emerge between people of different cultures and backgrounds. At the time, mainland China was closed off to the world - trade was embargoed - and my father-in-law was part of a group of young Chinese student-activists who wanted to show Americans that there was nothing suspicious or scary about Chinese people or culture. Pearl River’s legacy as a “friendship store” was kind of a double entendre when the store opened in 1971. What does it mean to you that the Pearl River Mart is described as a “friendship store”? My mother-in-law is also my officemate! I would say we are lucky that we all get along and have pretty good senses of humor, and each of us is big-picture-aware enough to understand that work disagreements can never be allowed to grow into family disagreements. I cannot say that I have figured out the work-life balance thing: I’ve worked every single day since I joined the company our vacations double as family sourcing trips and my kids appear regularly on the store’s Instagram feed. How do you maintain the work-life balance working so closely with your family? When the rent at their longtime Soho location quintupled in 2016, I decided to leave my job as an attorney and vice president for communications at Barnard College to revive the business because of its significance to generations of New Yorkers and Asian Americans like me who grew up with it. Over those five decades, Pearl River evolved into a beloved NYC institution and a pillar in the Asian American community. Chen having run the store for almost 50 years in a number of downtown locations. What influenced you to join the family business?Ĭrisis and necessity! Pearl River is a true mom-and-pop, with my in-laws Mr. Read more from Joanne below and catch her episode of Meatpacking Unpacked: Community Connected with Fred Dixon, CEO of NYC & Company here. Joanne shared with us the history of the brand, the process of reopening during a pandemic, and why now, more than ever, it’s important to support mom and pop stores in NYC. A fourth store, focused on Asian foods, is set to open at Chelsea Market later this year. After witnessing the public lament following the 2016 closing of the historic “friendship store,” she left her career as a communications executive and attorney to join her in-laws, the original founders of Pearl River, to resurrect the brand, opening three stores in three years, including locations in Tribeca/Chinatown, Chelsea Market, and the Museum of Chinese in America. Witnesses said it was a box containing broken glass and golf balls.Joanne Kwong is the president of Pearl River Mart, the iconic NYC Asian emporium established in 1971. The East Village package was deemed safe shortly after noon, the FDNY said. "I'm not gonna live in fear," said Brown. "At the end of the day, if you're gonna go, you're gonna go." Stephen Brown, 30, who works as a security guard in a nearby art gallery, saw the block get shut down and reacted with the same calm many New Yorkers exhibited after the Chelsea explosion. was determined not to be a bomb and the area was quickly cleared, the FDNY said.Ī local worker who declined to give his name said the package had been seen in an alley near the High Line. between 10th and 11th avenues and came in just after 11 a.m., according to the FDNY. The first suspicious package was reported at the corner of E. Nothing like a little bomb scare to start off the day! All clear, come see some art! #nypd #falsealarm #nycliving #dumptrump
Crown Heights, Prospect Heights & Prospect-Lefferts Gardens.Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens & Red Hook.
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