West Elm marks another first

On the heels of opening its first location in Arizona, West Elm is entering a new state.



The home furnishings retailer, a division of Williams-Sonoma, will open its first store in Maine, in the historic Old Port district of Portland. The 12,000 sq. ft. location will open its doors on Thursday, July 27.



The store will sell an assortment of local products highlighting 10 Maine-based makers and designers alongside the brand's fall assortment. Additionally, it will offer a design consultation program, called Style + Service, which offers customers design, installation and registry services.



West Elm honored the Portland peninsula's long history of being a commercial center for trade byland and sea with design elements that reference both the port and the railroad. Dozens of salvaged railroad ties arranged in a lattice-like grid cover the front of the cash wrap, paying homage to the trains that sped through Portland throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. In a nod to the area’s bustling waterfront and maritime past, a sculptural arrangement of woven rope hangs prominently behind the cash register.



“When we were considering our first store location in Maine, we were drawn to Portland’s commitment to revitalizing its historic warehouse district of Old Port,” said West Elm president Alex Bellos. “We want to help support Old Port’s local economy of small businesses, artists, galleries and shops by building community and celebrating its storied past as Portland’s commercial district.”



West Elm operates 100 retail stores in the United States, Australia, Canada and the UK.