Swann’s Furniture & Design Store, Tyler, Texas
When Swann’s opened its 51,000-sq.-ft. freestanding flagship store in Tyler, Texas, it unveiled a new design that takes the 117-year-old furniture retailer and home design consultant to an even higher-end level.
Stamford, Conn.-based Martin Roberts Design completed the $4.4-million Swann’s store, with the objective of elevating both the retailer and its surroundings.
“We focused on increasing the store’s visibility in the community and ensuring the consistency of the shopping experience between the retailer’s new Web site and physical store,” said MRD president Martin Roberts.
Swann’s immediate need was to address the changed character of the neighborhood where the original store and warehouse were located. Over the decades, the area had transitioned to industrial use. It did not reflect the high-end attributes of Swann’s brand nor did it provide a high volume of prospective customer traffic on neighboring streets, which both negatively impacted the business.
The new, freestanding store is located in a high-traffic area of an affluent Tyler neighborhood. The expansive, elegant façade and signage increase the visibility and attract clients from as far as 100 miles away. The old store was converted into a self-storage facility.
In addition to the retail architecture consultant and interior designer Martin Roberts Design, the project team included general contractor Abby Developments and structural engineer Mike Marler, P.E./Engineering & Safety Consultants.