WEST ELM TO OPEN UPSTATE NEW YORK LOCATION IN ALBANY

West Elm today announced it will open a location in Albany, New York on Thursday, October 5 at 10 a.m. in Stuyvesant Plaza located at 1475 Western Ave. The 10,525 sq. ft. store is expected to bring approximately 30 jobs to the Capital Region. West Elm Albany will sell an array of local products made by 11 New York state-based makers and designers alongside the brand’s holiday assortment of home furnishings and decor. West Elm will also offer Williams-Sonoma, Inc.’s cross-brand design consultation program Design Crew, which pairs customers with experts who can provide design, installation and registry services.

“At every one of our stores, we aim to create a welcoming environment for shoppers, community members and local artists to come together and find inspiration,” said West Elm president Alex Bellos. “We hope customers will enjoy connecting at West Elm Albany and participate in our unique, in-store experiences, from DIY workshops and discovering new local artists to working with our Design Crew experts.”

A selection of locally made products by 11 makers and artisans based in New York state will be showcased as part of the West Elm Albany LOCAL assortment including:

• AHeirloom: Wood cutting boards and kitchen accessories made in Brooklyn
• Billy Wolf: Dog accessories and clothing made in Montauk
• Claudia Pearson: Tea towels, totes and aprons with hand drawn illustrations made in Brooklyn
• Forage Paper Co.: Nature-inspired prints and greeting cards made in New York City
• Hemstitch Mill: Handmade patches with cartoons and whimsy graphics made in Albany
• Mr. Dog: Dog bowls, leashes, toys and accessories made in Brooklyn
• MW Neighborhoods: Locally inspired graphic t-shirts made in Albany
• Ollie & Otto: All natural and sustainably made skincare products made in Glenford
• Pratt + Hebert: Handcrafted ceramics with inlaid illustrations made in Schenectady
• Tattly: High-quality temporary tattoos designed by a variety of artists made in Brooklyn
• The Great Lakes Goods: Handmade stationery, prints and wooden objects made in Brooklyn

West Elm Albany’s store design draws inspiration from the architecture and landmarks surrounding the Capital Region. Behind the cash wrap is a depiction of Albany’s downtown skyline featuring silhouetted images of the State Capital Building and other local landmarks, paired with a mirrored image of the skyline as a nod to the iconic reflecting pool at the city’s center. The entire installation is comprised of grey poplar, oak fence boards, and weather-worn barn siding that dates back to the early 1800s. The front cash wrap design is created using deconstructed aluminum light fixtures that once hung in a Carnegie Library in Brooklyn.

West Elm will co-host a pre-opening celebration on Wednesday, October 4 from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m with Anthony D’Argenzio of Zio & Sons, a New York-based blog and creative collective (Instagram: @ZioandSons). Albany residents are invited to enter the West Elm sweepstakes* offering local customers a chance to win a $2,000 gift card and an invitation to Wednesday’s private, pre-opening celebration. A portion of the pre-opening proceeds will benefit Capital Roots, a local nonprofit committed to teaching nutrition to all ages through community gardens, healthy food access and urban greening programs. To celebrate the opening of West Elm Albany on Thursday, October 5, West Elm will partner with Albany-based artist Hemstitch Mill to design a limited edition tote bag presented to the first 300 shoppers with a $50 minimum purchase.

For up-to-date information on in-store promotions and events, customers are encouraged to “like” the West Elm Albany store on Facebook: www.facebook.com/westelmalbany and follow the store on Instagram: @westelmalbany. West Elm Albany is open Monday - Saturday, 10 a.m. - 8 p.m., and Sunday 11 a.m. - 6 p.m . The store’s address is 1475 Western Ave., Albany, NY 12203 and the phone number is (518) 453-0050. Applicants interested in joining the West Elm Albany team may send an email to WestElmStores@wsgc.com.

*Open only to residents that live within the Albany, NY area. Official rules of the sweepstakes can be found on the Albany Sweepstakes page.

About West Elm

Headquartered in Brooklyn, NY since 2002, West Elm opened its first store in DUMBO, the neighborhood it still proudly calls home. With a mission of harnessing the power of design and human connection to enrich lives, everything West Elm does is designed to make an impact in everyday life, from creating unique, affordable designs for modern living and commitment to Fair Trade Certified, from LOCAL and handcrafted products to community-driven collaborations and events. The brand operates 103 retail stores in the United States, Australia, Canada and the UK, ships internationally to customers around the world and has unaffiliated franchisees that operate stores in Mexico, the Middle East, Philippines and South Korea. In addition to home furnishings retail, West Elm operates West Elm Workspace in the commercial furnishings industry and announced its expansion into the travel and hospitality industry with the launch of West Elm Hotels. West Elm publishes the blog Front+Main and is part of an active community on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter and YouTube. West Elm is a member of the Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM) portfolio of brands.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171003005929/en/