Happy Tuesday. Well, we didn’t get any tornadoes yesterday but those downpours were sure heavy and localized. We managed to dodge the showers but saw a lot of soaking wet streets.

Attention, bargain shoppers — the much loved, erstwhile discount designer destination Century 21 is getting a restock. The COVID-shuttered department store plans to reopen its flagship FiDi location in 2023. Read more…

Century 21 Downtown

Hell’s Kitchen awoke yesterday morning to another shooting, as NYPD reports that gun crime in Manhattan South is at its highest since 1997. Read more…

Shooting W47th Street

What we’ve been reading

Walking Broadway from top to bottom to take a check of NYC’s economic barometer. (New York Post)

Why bargain hunters are having to search extra hard in thrift stores these days… (WSJ)

Where is the most popular setting for American novels? Why, New York of course! (Crossword Solver)

As prices rise, people are getting creative about shopping for their groceries. (New York Times)

New electoral map means Nadler and Maloney will face off in the newly drawn district. (NBC)

Freeze Frame

Down in the East Village, one building owner has taken desperate measures to combat rats burrowing in their tree pit. EV Grieve and photographer Suzy Kunz rightly report that this is “a terrible way to try to kill rats.”

“There are better options … which the city discusses via its online Rat Academy courses for property managers, business owners, etc.  Find other rat resources here,” they said.

Happy birthday to Paul David — and belated birthday greetings to David Boyle and Erica Gruen.