CB2 Eastside Opens In Manhattan's Design & Decoration Building (PHOTOS)
The Shop: CB2, 979 3rd Ave, New York, NY; cb2.com.
CB2, the younger and hipper sister home furnishings shop to Crate & Barrel, has opened a second Manhattan store on the ground floor of one of New York's most iconic design spots, the Design & Decoration Building. Well-known by designers and industry insiders as the go-to place for some of the best home showrooms, the building has historically been off-limits to the public and CB2 is one of the first major retailers to set up shop there.
We're huge fans of CB2 so we're thrilled that it's continuing to spread their brand of democratic design. See our quick chat with CB2 Director, Marta Calle, below and check out our slideshow for a peek inside the new shop.
1. What was the inspiration for this store?
We initially decided to open a second New York location because of the success of our SoHo store -- it gets SO busy on the weekends and we decided that we simply needed more space to maintain the level of excellent customer service that is so essential to the CB2 brand. It took us five years to find the ideal location because we wanted everything to be perfect, but we finally found it.
2. Why did CB2 pick the D&D Building (Design & Decoration Building), which sells predominantly to the trade only?
The D&D building is a significant location for New York's design community and we are honored to be a part of it. We're really excited to have found this amazing location because we're proud that we can offer great design with the highest quality at such accessible prices.
3. What's been most popular with visitors at CB2?
The perennial CB2 favorites are the Peekaboo collection, Big Dipper lamp and the Marta glasses. A recent fall 2011 addition to the collection, the Avec Tweed sofa has also been very popular.
4. What are your three CB2 must-haves from the store?
The 1938 chair. The leather is beautiful -- we work with incredibly talented artisans in India to achieve the great, rustic look. The Parlour chair -- it's handmade in the U.S. with a fabric that is exclusive to CB2 and the pattern and colors really reflect the attitude of the brand. And finally our Bento dinnerware -- I love the simplicity and multi-functionality. Everything works so well together as a set but can also be seamlessly combined with patterned pieces. And at $4.95 per dinner plate, you really can't beat it.
5. What is a fun fact about this store that most visitors don't know about?
One of the store's "display alcoves" is actually a repurposed, vintage bank vault. Additionally, many people do not know that CB2's Blog "In the Loop" is full of fun DIY projects and interesting stories about the things that inspire the CB2 team.
6. What are three words that sum up this CB2 store?
CB2 Eastside -- as all of our stores, really -- is minimalist, but warm and has a very dynamic energy created from the interaction between the space and the products.
Scroll through this slideshow to see the cool new store and some of the products we have our eyes on.
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