It’s Georgio Armani vs. Tommy Bahama on the same Bay Ridge block.
On Sunday, 86th Street will become a shopper’s paradise as fashion discounter T.J. Maxx finally opens between Fifth and Sixth avenues — just one block from where Century 21 has been selling designer goods at low prices for decades.
Neighborhood fashiontistas can’t wait to browse T.J. brands such as Hollister, Talbots and Billa-Bong then head over to Century 21 for higher-end designers like Chanel, Marc Jacobs and Prada.
“I’m familiar with both stores and each offer different things,” one Century 21 shopper told us last week. “T.J. Maxx will make things diverse and it’ll be good for Century 21 to have some competition.”
Still, Century 21 has two things that Maxx lacks: a parking garage and customer loyalty built up over 50 years.
“I’m a Century’s girl,” said Mary-Ann Frederico of Dyker Heights. “The quality is better, and I will continue shopping here.”
T.J. Maxx isn’t entirely new to Brooklyn shoppers; its first store opened in Flatlands earlier this year. Maxx fans swear by it.
“I’ll shop at both stores,” said one shopper. “But I think T.J. Maxx is going to offer different things and have good sales.”
Sunday’s grand opening begins at 8 am with the store’s first customer cutting the ribbon to begin the retail onslaught. Borough President Markowitz is scheduled to appear — and tout the T.J. Maxx company assertion that “most” of the 170 jobs created by the store have gone to Brooklyn residents.
Grand opening of T.J. Maxx (502 86th St. between Fifth and Sixth avenues, no phone). May 22, 8 am-8 pm. For info, visit www.tjmxx.com; Century 21 [472 86th St. between Fourth and Fifth avenues, (718) 748-3266].
