West Elm opens store in a former post office

Home furnishings retailer West Elm will open a new store in downtown Reno, Nevada, on Aug. 11.



The 11,000-sq.-ft. store is located on the main floor of the former U.S. Post Office building, which has been transformed into The Basement marketplace, an underground venue with a mission to create a multi-use incubator space of both retail and food vendors celebrating handicraft.



The former main post office, built in 1934, has been restored and stands as a relic of Art Deco style in downtown Reno. Guided by historical preservation, West Elm has incorporated the building’s original architecture and ornate details in the store’s design. Preserved period elements such as the original post office boxes were used to display the West Elm sign behind the register, while motifs from the building’s exterior door pediments were recreated from raw wood and metal materials for the front cash wrap.



“The revival of downtown Reno is an inspiring example of how a network of entrepreneurs, artists, and makers can help a city to preserve and honor its history,” said Jim Brett, president, West Elm, which operates 89 stores in the United States, Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom. “Opening our doors in the former post office is just the first step in our commitment to support our new community as part of downtown Reno’s placemaking movement.”



As part of West Elm’s Local program, products from eight Reno-based makers and designers will be featured with the store’s fall assortment of modern furnishings and décor.



West Elm is a division of Williams-Sonoma.