Room & Board Finally Arrives on 14th Street

• June 10th 2010

by Mark Wellborn

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Handcrafted furniture store Room & Board opened the doors of its new 14th Street location on Thursday night for a sneak preview that has been years in the making. About 200 people were in attendance when UrbanTurf arrived early in the evening, a crowd that was already keeping the valet crew, bartenders and wait staff busy. Drinks and h’ors d’oeuvres were plentiful, and there was a definite buzz as people finally got to see inside the long-anticipated addition to the neighborhood. UrbanTurf took a lot of photos, displayed below.

Located at 1840 14 Street NW (map), the store is only Room & Board’s second location on the East Coast, and its largest.

The Minneapolis-based chain made news back in 2008 when it announced that it was looking for space in DC. A commissioned study of the local market identified the stretch of 14th between P and U Streets as an area where many residents already shopped for furniture (Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, Vastu and others are located there), but protests from historical preservationists and Logan Circle residents who did not want a chain furniture store in the neighborhood held up Room & Board’s decision for several months.

The company ultimately purchased the former R.L. Taylor and Herbert Smith Ford dealership in June 2009. To date, the company has always acquired its real estate rather than leasing, even at its SoHo store in New York, though that store has considerably less space than the 36,586 square feet interior space at this store.

The price for the old dealership was $6.5 million, and Room & Board spent another $6 million on renovations. In an effort to maintain the historical charm and integrity of the building, the company hired local architect Eric Colbert & Associates to handle the renovation and design. The firm, known for designing residential projects like The Floridian and Rainbow Lofts, did an impressive job of opening up the interior while keeping the bones of the original building intact.

They also added another floor to the building, setting it back from the existing structure’s edge. This setback allowed space for a roof deck that wraps around the building and overlooks 14th and T Streets, with longer views into the surrounding neighborhood. The roof deck will serve as a common area for shoppers to relax and enjoy a great view. There is another common area at ground level, where a patio along T Street also offers outdoor seating.

The store will employee 18 people and expects to reach annual sales in the $16 to $18 million range. Free parking will be offered at a lot half a block from the store.

Those antsy to get in to look at the store’s wares will have to wait a few more days: The store officially opens to the public this Monday the 14th at 11am.

“We are excited to be part of such a great neighborhood,” retail market manager Lisa Lightfoot said. “This area has amazing restaurants, unique boutiques and a rich culture of arts. We look forward to being an active part of the community.”

This article originally published at http://dc.urbanturf.production.logicbrush.com/articles/blog/room_board_finally_arrives_on_14th_street/2150.