Many Brooklyn residents were shocked when they heard that the Century 21 department store in Bay Ridge was closing down, but now some elected officials are stepping forward to do whatever they can to save it.

Signs were seen outside saying ‘everything on sale’ and ‘going out of business’--but if it were up to State Sen. Andrew Gournardes and other politicians, the store which has been there since the 60s and expanded to other locations around the country--would remain where it is for years to come.

Councilmember Justin Brannan wrote a letter to the Gindi family, the founders and owners of the company, saying they would be willing to help in any way they can to keep them in business.

The letter says in part, "It is unconscionable that due to your insurance company's greed and refusal to pay your interruption claim during the COVID-19 pandemic that this New York City landmark will be forced to close its doors."

That’s the reason the company gave for going out of business. So, Gourdanes and Assemblymember Robert Carroll are pushing a new bill they introduced--called the Business Interruption Insurance Bill, which mandates that insurance companies honor business interruption insurance claims during the pandemic.

News 12 reached out to the Gindi family for their reaction to the outreach of support but has not heard back yet.

The bill has yet to pass the state Senate and Assembly.