The doors are about to open for shoppers at the new Wayfair store in Edens Plaza.
Wayfair officials have set Thursday, May 23 for the opening of its new approximate 150,000 square foot store in the shopping center at 3232 Lake Avenue in Wilmette.
“The store is a one-stop shop for all things home including furniture, home decor, housewares and home improvement products, for any style space or budget,” Wayfair officials promised in a statement.
The new Wayfair will also include a restaurant known as The Porch.
The Wilmette store is the company’s first large-format store using the Wayfair brand, according to a Wayfair spokeswoman.
The store opening culminates a process that began in January 2022 when the village announced that WS Development, a Boston-based real estate firm, would purchase Edens Plaza. In a corresponding move with acquisition, Wayfair would move into the building once occupied by the Carson Pirie Scott department store, which closed in 2018.
Since January 2022, Wayfair has acquired the necessary approvals and permits from the village to open up the store.
Village Manager Mike Braiman wrote in an email that Wayfair will need a final inspection after the store is stocked to issue a Certificate of Occupancy in one of the last procedural actions toward opening.
“We’re incredibly excited for the Wayfair opening and are fortunate to have them in Wilmette,” Braiman added.” This is the first major step in the revitalization of Edens Plaza and we look forward to welcoming many new visitors (Wayfair shoppers) to our community.”
Daniel I. Dorfman is a freelance reporter with Pioneer Press.
