by Peter Corbett – Mar. 26, 2009 01:51 PM
The Arizona Republic
Shoppers will get their first look at the Scottsdale Quarter this weekend.
The emerging shopping district southeast of Scottsdale Road and Greenway-Hayden Loop had its first two store openings on Thursday. Williams-Sonoma Home and its sister store, West Elm, are the first merchants at the Quarter.
The two home-furnishings stores are offering a 10 percent discount on all sales through Sunday to lure shoppers.
Some locals are excited about the new shops.
Robin Williams of Chandler planned to be one of West Elm’s first shoppers.
“I’ve been shopping at West Elm in San Diego,” she said as she peered in the windows at the new Scottsdale store. “This is a great store. I love their contemporary designs.”
West Elm has modern, urban furnishings at lower prices than the more traditional designs at Williams-Sonoma Home.
Both stores are the first for the brands in Arizona, although Williams-Sonoma does have three of its kitchenware stores, three Pottery Barn stores and two Pottery Barn Kids stores in the Valley.
This is store No. 11 for Williams-Sonoma Home and the 38th location for West Elm around the country.
West Elm will employ 24 workers, and the Home store will have 11.
Retailer’s results tumble
Like many other retailers, San Francisco-based Williams-Sonoma Inc. has been struggling with the downturn in the economy, particularly because home furnishings are closely tied to home sales.
Its fourth-quarter profits, reported Tuesday, were off 90 percent. Same-store sales for the past year dipped 17 percent.
But for the longer term, Williams-Sonoma is positioned to take advantage of its Scottsdale Road location near other high-end furniture and home-design stores.
Retailers wait in wings
Scottsdale Quarter is a $270 million outdoor shopping center or lifestyle center as these places, such as Kierland Commons, like to call themselves.
Other shops and restaurants in the first phase of the 28-acre project will open through the end of the year.
They include Apple, Nike and H&M, a Swedish fashion retailer.
Brio Tuscan Grille is next in line to open sometime in April, according to Richard Hunt, Scottsdale Quarter general manager.
