A giant, purple Wayfair store will soon open in Wilmette.
According to a spokesperson, the Wayfair store planned for Edens Plaza in Wilmette is scheduled to open in May. Developers had previously announced the store, which will fill the vacant, two-story building the formerly housed Carson Pirie Scott, would open its doors in mid-2023.
The 150,000 square-foot store, at 3232 Lake Ave., will be Wayfair's first "large-format" store, the spokesperson said, adding that it will soon hire for approximately 200 positions.
The store will have "immersive and interactive experiences," the home goods website said, with 19 departments ranging from furniture, to décor, to outdoor and home improvement. It will also have an in-store restaurant.
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Wayfair currently has a warehouse location in Romeoville, the spokesperson said, adding that customers at the Wilmette store will be able to take "certain" items home from the store after purchase. Others would be delivered.
In 2023, Wayfair specialty brand Joss & Main opened its first brick-and-mortar store at Oak Brook Center. Wayfair also operates brick-and-mortar Joss & Main, Birch Lane and AllModern stores in other locations, including Massachusetts, Texas and Florida, the spokesperson said. Those stores are significantly smaller than the planned Wilmette store, the spokesperson said, noting that specialty brand stores range in size from 8,000 to 15,000 square feet.
Development and construction on the space in Wilmette began in 2022. Previously released renderings of the new store show a patio with umbrellas and tables, greenery and more.
