Internet retailer Wayfair plans to open its first brick-and-mortar location next month in Wilmette, Illinois, a suburb outside Chicago. The 150,000-square-foot store will open on May 23 and offer an extensive selection of furniture, home decor, housewares, and home improvement products. Customers can also enjoy a meal at the on-site restaurant, The Porch.
The store will feature a design studio and is significantly smaller than a typical Ikea outlet despite offering similar products. Ikea has announced plans to open numerous small-format stores across the U.S. that are much smaller than their typical locations.
Wayfair is not the only internet-based retailer venturing into in-person shopping. Amazon opened Amazon Style stores in 2022, showcasing popular clothing items. However, Amazon closed these stores by the end of 2023.
Wayfair has recently undergone workforce changes, including a 13% global workforce reduction in January, impacting 1,650 employees. This follows a surge in sales during the pandemic that has since subsided, leading to a decline in stock value.
