Wayfair's First Physical Store Opens Soon—Here's What Shoppers Can Expect

You’ll be able to shop a wide range of furniture and treat yourself to a beverage at the in-store cafe after.

Wayfair

If you know your budget, need a quick delivery, and want options, Wayfair might have just what you need for furnishing your home. While it’s fun to spend hours scrolling through the site, it can be a bit of a struggle to know exactly what you’re getting—some items look similar but have quite a discrepancy in price. But soon, you’ll be able to check the pieces out in person at their brand-new brick-and-mortar store.

Wayfair announced in April that it plans to open its inaugural large-format physical store on May 23 in Edens Plaza in Wilmette, Illinois. Wilmette, a suburb of Chicago, is about an hour away from the Windy City (at rush hour). The announcement said the grand opening will include “exclusive deals and family-friendly activities” all weekend long. Hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Mondays through Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays.

According to the announcement, the store will be 150,000 square feet and have “all things home.” That includes “furniture, home decor, housewares, and home improvement products, for any style space or budget.” The store also seemingly takes a little cue from IKEA and Costco and will also have an on-site cafe, called The Porch. (It’s unclear what it’ll offer other than coffee, but hopefully we get another classic retailer meal to go with our meatballs and hotdogs.)

Visiting the store’s website gives you an idea of what to expect when visiting. Its homepage mentions four areas to explore: a Dream Center where you can try out different mattresses; a Market Square where you can browse textiles, decor, and daily essentials; a Design Studio to get free design advice and inspiration from pros; and The Porch.

This announcement comes after the brand gave its a refresh in March, updating its logo, jingle, and partnering with celebrities like Lisa Vanderpump, Lisa Ann Walter, and Tituss Burgess in a new campaign called “Welcome to the Wayborhood.”

While this is an exciting development, it comes at a bit of an uneasy time. RetailDive reported that the company’s 2023 net revenue fell 1.8% year over year to $12 billion “amid a challenging home retail market.”

But that doesn’t mean customers won’t enjoy taking in all that the new store has to offer, and it does make sense that Wayfair is making this move. Along with its rebrand, the furniture giant already has a few other flagship stores for its brands. AllModern has two Massachusetts locations and one Texas location, while Joss & Main has a Massachusetts location. And, as always, you can still shop online.

Read the original article on Better Homes & Gardens.