The Crate Opens

Rochelle furniture collection grouping at Galleria, $499-$1,499.

A new Crate & Barrel opened in Galleria on March 13. There was such a crowd, you’d think we’d never seen the Chicago–based retailer before, though until recently it had been located just across the street. Of course, now we get the much-anticipated furniture collection. After the ribbon cutting, we hung out with founder and CEO Gordon Segal on one of C&B’s sleek sectionals for a little Q&A.

You started it all in 1962. Why?
My wife, Carol, and I were newlyweds in Chicago. Like many couples, we had good taste and no money. We were frustrated that we couldn’t find clean, contemporary housewares. The kinds of things we could find in Denmark, Finland, and other parts of Europe and the Caribbean.

So you decided to do go for it?
We wanted to make a difference. Do something we loved. At that time, you didn’t import yourself. You went to the markets, but then you were buying an importer’s taste. We wanted to exert our own taste for more unique products, a more unique mix.

Any products from 1962 still in the mix?
A Bauhaus teapot designed in 1928 is still a bestseller. Our Working Glass is based on a jelly glass we found at a flea market in France. We’ve sold tens of millions. Then it was seventy-five cents, now it’s $1.50.

In the world of big box and superstores C&B is still relevant. Why?
Service. We understand the product. Porcelain versus earthenware. Handblown versus machine made. We show people why. People don’t buy this category very often. They buy apparel monthly. Food, weekly. Cars, every three or four years.

You closed Nicollet Mall and Southdale, but opened something very special. What are you telling us?
We were looking to build one of these statement stores in Minneapolis for a long time. But we needed to wait until our leases were up. Now we can offer the littlest pickle fork to a large leather sectional all in one freestanding store.

Find the new Crate & Barrel at Galleria, Edina, 952-920-2300