Marketplace: Some NYC businesses are trying to negotiate for lower rent

Pearl River President Joanne Kwong spoke with Marketplace about dealing with the obstacle of having to pay high commercial rents, especially during the pandemic.

Joanne Kwong, the president of Manhattan retailer Pearl River Mart, said she was paying around $1 million a year in rent for two locations and a warehouse before the pandemic. She said negotiating to try and get a break on her rent is like rolling the dice. “Our situation is kind of dependent on the whims or the situation of the landlord,” she said.

Listen to the whole piece.