Wayfair, the popular online furniture and home furnishings retailer, is taking a bold step into the physical retail world with the opening of its first-ever brick-and-mortar store. Located inside Eden’s Plaza in the suburban town of Wilmette, this 150,000 square-foot store is set to open its doors to the public next weekend.
The store’s exterior boasts a vibrant purple and white color scheme, creating a welcoming and modern atmosphere. This is a stark contrast to the former Carson Pirie Scott department store that previously occupied the space for decades before closing its doors in 2018.
Inside, customers will be greeted with a vast array of over 80,000 pieces of inventory, ranging from couches and cribs to wallpaper, flooring, and even appliances such as refrigerators. The store also features a home improvement section, a test kitchen, and a fully-loaded design center, making it a one-stop-shop for all home needs.
Barclay Resler, Wayfair’s head of visual merchandising, expressed the company’s desire for customers to see that they have something for every room in the house. “We wanted customers to see that we have things for the entire home,” Resler said during a media tour of the store. “And not only that, we have the entire style spectrum, so everything from the most modern, through the spectrum to the most traditional, and also really every price point.”
Similar to a home furnishings store, Wayfair’s layout is designed to showcase multiple home vignettes and color schemes, along with finishing touches like pillows, candles, vases, and tableware. While many of the furniture and finishing brands are signature ones, such as Joss & Main, which also has a brick-and-mortar store in the Chicago area, the store also carries appliances from top names like Samsung, Bosch, and Cuisinart.
But Wayfair’s offerings don’t stop at furniture and home decor. The store also offers custom cabinetry for kitchens, complimentary design services, a gallery wall creator, and a “Dream Center” that helps customers find the perfect mattress and pillows through a five-question process.
According to officials, customers can select and purchase items in-store and pick them up at the end of their shopping trip, although some items may need to be delivered. Customers can also order items online for store pick-up or opt for “fast and free shipping,” which typically takes under a week.
In addition to its impressive selection of home goods, the store also features an on-site restaurant called “The Porch.” The restaurant offers all-day breakfast, along with snacks, salads, sandwiches, coffee, and even beer and wine. Resler encourages customers to “sip and shop” while enjoying a meal or drink at The Porch.
During the media tour, officials expressed their excitement for the Chicago market, particularly Wilmette, as the location for Wayfair’s first physical store. “There are lots of young families here,” said Liza Lefkowski, VP of merchandising. “It’s the perfect fit for our brand.”
Lefkowski also emphasized that the store is meant to be a destination for all things “home” and caters to a wide range of budgets. With its grand opening set for 10 a.m. on Thursday, May 23, Wayfair is offering exclusive deals and family-friendly activities throughout the weekend. After the grand opening, the store and restaurant will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays.
As we eagerly await the opening of Wayfair’s first brick-and-mortar store, here’s a sneak peek into what customers can expect to see inside:
[Include images of the store’s interior, showcasing the various home vignettes and products available]
In conclusion, Wayfair’s foray into the physical retail world is an exciting development for both the company and its customers. With its vast selection of home goods, top-notch brands, and convenient services, the store is sure to become a go-to destination for all things home. So mark your calendars for May 23 and get ready to experience the world of Wayfair in person. See you there!
