West Elm announced today that its first store in Iowa will open on Thursday, September 28 at 10 a.m., joining the East Village’s mix of shopping, dining and entertainment at 219 East Grand Ave., Suite 101. The 11,000 sq. ft. store will bring approximately 30 jobs to the Des Moines area. With a commitment to building community, West Elm will sell an assortment of local products from seven Iowa-based makers and designers alongside the store’s fall assortment of affordable, modern home furnishings and decor. West Elm will also offer Williams-Sonoma, Inc.’s cross-brand design consultation program Design Crew, which pairs customers with experts who can provide design, installation and registry services.

“We are excited to open our first Iowa location in the historic East Village, a neighborhood known for its diverse mix of culture and commerce,” said West Elm president Alex Bellos. “We hope that our store serves as a welcoming destination for customers, neighbors, and creatives to come together, connect, and discover a local artist or join one of our community-driven workshops and events.”

A selection of locally made products by seven makers and artisans based in Iowa will be a part of the West Elm Des Moines LOCAL assortment including:

  • Iowa Parklands: Bandanas and accessories with state trail and park maps made in Des Moines
  • Kelsey Lampe: Vibrant abstract prints painted in Des Moines
  • Libby Burns: Pins and prints with hand drawn illustrations made in Des Moines
  • Overprint.Co.: Linen napkins and unique room fragrance sprays made in Des Moines
  • The Red Door Press: Letterpress prints and designs produced in Des Moines
  • Siberian Soap Co.: Handcrafted, plant-based and nature-inspired soaps from Ames
  • Woody’s Scrap Works: Custom handcrafted wood furniture and decor made in West Des Moines

West Elm looked to Iowa’s rolling plains and prairies for inspiration when designing the store’s distinct architectural characteristics. West Elm sourced reclaimed materials from barns that once stood on the Midwestern landscape and used the corrugated metal roofing to cover the store’s front cash wrap. The store’s loft floor uses a mix of American hardwoods to create a unique and modern chevron design. Behind the register, an assembly of rare, pieced and hand-split wood lath references the iconic architectural style of the Prairie School movement prevalent throughout Iowa.

Des Moines residents are invited to enter the West Elm sweepstakes* offering local customers a chance to win a $2,000 gift card and an invitation to a pre-opening night celebration on Wednesday, September 27 from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. A portion of the evening’s proceeds will benefit Des Moines Social Club, a local nonprofit that provides local artists with developmental programming and a place to showcase their work to a larger audience. To celebrate the store’s opening on Thursday, September 28, West Elm will present a limited edition tote bag designed by Des Moines-based artist Bozz Prints to the first 300 shoppers with a $50 minimum purchase.

For up-to-date information on in-store promotions and events, customers are encouraged to “like” the West Elm Des Moines store on Facebook: www.facebook.com/westelmdesmoines and follow the store on Instagram: @westelmdesmoines. West Elm Des Moines is open Monday - Sunday 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. The store’s address is 219 East Grand Avenue, Suite 101, Des Moines, IA 50309 and the phone number is (515) 282-2020. Applicants interested in joining the West Elm Des Moines team are encouraged to email WestElmStores@wsgc.com.

*Open only to residents that live within the Des Moines, IA area. Official rules of the sweepstakes can be found on the Des Moines Sweepstakes page.

About West Elm

Headquartered in Brooklyn, NY since 2002, West Elm opened its first store in DUMBO, the neighborhood it still proudly calls home. With a mission of harnessing the power of design and human connection to enrich lives, everything West Elm does is designed to make an impact in everyday life, from creating unique, affordable designs for modern living and commitment to Fair Trade Certified, from LOCAL and handcrafted products to community-driven collaborations and events. The brand operates 102 retail stores in the United States, Australia, Canada and the UK, ships internationally to customers around the world and has unaffiliated franchisees that operate stores in Mexico, the Middle East, Philippines and South Korea. In addition to home furnishings retail, West Elm operates West Elm Workspace in the commercial furnishings industry and announced its expansion into the travel and hospitality industry with the launch of West Elm Hotels. West Elm publishes the blog Front+Main and is part of an active community on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter and YouTube. West Elm is a member of the Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM) portfolio of brands.