If its first few weeks are any indication, the if-you-build-it-they-will-come philosophy seems to be working for Swedish retailer Ikea. (The meatballs don't hurt, either.)
Plus, The Great and its Cali-cool womenswear move into the Marin Country Mart while Amour Vert opens up shop in Sonoma County's Montgomery Village.
Ikea's new Mid-Market store will have you at "Hej, Neighbor."
(Courtesy of Ikea)
As far as Ikeas go, the Swedish company's just-opened (and much-anticipated) San Francisco store is small at 52,000 square feet. But for many city dwellers, the three-level structure is a grand oasis filled with stuff that will actually fit in their pint-sized homes.
This is precisely the point of the "city-concept" store...to offer affordable, smart solutions for living in teensy-weensy to (regular) small dwellings. One step through the large glass doors and it's easy to feel like your Apartment Therapy dreams can come true.
Even if you're no Kendall Wilkinson, the 27 fully furnished room vignettes—galley kitchens, offices, bathrooms, closets, bedrooms and more—are sure to inspire and have you pulling out your Apple Pay. One major thing to note, though: Shoppers can walk out the door carrying any of 2,500 smaller home accessories—kitchenwares, candles, plants, storage bins, etc—but larger furniture items are only available for home delivery, available same- or next-day thanks to a partnership with TaskRabbit and Lugg.
Another cool thing? There's an As-is section filled with previously loved Ikea pieces that offer even more affordable and sustainable options. Selling your older stuff back to the retailer for store credit is something to think about.
Lastly, we'd be remiss if we didn't leave you with this: Head downtown with an appetite. Yes, those delicious Swedish meatballs (vegan options, too) and other savory and sweet Scandinavian treats at the Swedish Deli are worth a trip. A Swedish Food Market is also stocked with everything from salmon fillets to lingonberry jam and chocolate, chocolate, chocolate. // 945 Market St. (Mid-Market), ikea.com
Great News! No really: The Great opens its first Northern Cali storefront in Marin.
(Courtesy of The Great)
The L.A. brand best known for cool, comfy womenswear recently put down brick-and-mortar roots at Marin Country Mart. It's The Great's sixth store overall and first beyond the sunny borders of Southern California. That being said, it is a homecoming of sorts as founders Emily Current and Meritt Elliott are NorCal natives.
On a recent morning, the shop was filled with moody-floral dresses, soft knits, slouchy tees, fun outerwear, classic jeans and versatile suiting (this shrunken blazer). The collection is smartly curated too, with pieces made for mixing, matching and layering—and living the foggy-sunny-foggy-sunny life.
As for the 1,200-square-foot store's design? Simply gorge, as in flowing with coastal vibes, vintage twists, and nods to denim. // Marin Country Mart, 1011 Larkspur Landing Circle, Suite 5 (Larkspur), thisisthegreat.com
Santa Rosa just got its very own Amour Vert boutique. Magnifique!
(Courtesy of Amour Vert)
We can't believe Amour Vert just opened shop number five in Montgomery Village. Wasn't it just yesterday we attended the opening to boutique bébé No.1 in Hayes Valley? Congrats to the 13-year-old SF brand, adored for its eco-conscious apparel with a French twist.
Dipping its toe into the Sonoma County retail scene for the first time is very exciting for AV, which is currently in expansion mode, according to CEO Dominique Mikolajczak: "We have an exceptionally loyal customer base here in the Bay Area, with a lot of online business coming from the North Bay. This new store will allow us to meet our customers where they are and give them the opportunity to experience Amour Vert in person."
Seems like a good time to schedule a shopping trip (with a side of wine tasting) with the besties. // Montgomery Village. 2409 Magowan Dr. (Santa Rosa), amourvert.com
