Daily News
From Home Furnishing Business
West Elm to Open Two New Stores
August 7,
2015 by in Industry, Store Openings 
New York-based home furnishings retailer West Elm will open its third Chicago area store at Westfield Old Orchard and its first store in Calgary, Alberta at Mount Royal Village on Aug. 20.
The 10,800-square-foot Chicago store will open with West Elm’s fall assortment including fair trade certified, handcrafted and local products accompanied by a suite of complimentary design services. Crafted goods from five Illinois-based artists and makers will join West Elm’s LOCAL initiative. West Elm has partnered with Chicago-based artist Kevin Lucius to design a limited edition tote bag given to the first 300 shoppers with a $50 minimum purchase. Additional store opening activities include a sweepstakes offering local customers a chance to win a $2,000 gift card and an invitation to a pre-opening celebration co-hosted by Chicago’s DIY bloggers Kim and Scott Vargo of Yellow Brick Home on Aug. 19.
The 9,000-square-foot Calgary store will be West Elm’s fourth location in Canada. West Elm has partnered with Green Calgary to co-host a pre-opening celebration on Aug. 19. A portion of the night’s proceeds will benefit Green Calgary, an environmental charity that supports the people of Calgary in living a more sustainable life.
The first 300 shoppers with a $50 minimum purchase will be gifted a tote bag designed by Calgary-based illustrator Alison Hui of The Paper Lover Co., and crafted goods from six Calgary-based artists and makers will be featured at the Calgary store as part of West Elm’s LOCAL initiative.