Pottery Barn opening in Garden City Center

Cranston, R.I. -- Boston-based The Wilder Cos. said that Pottery Barn is opening a new store in Garden City Center, as part of the first phase of a plan to expand, reconfigure and redevelop the historic shopping center.



Pottery Barn will be the larger of two stores located in a new 20,000-sq.-ft. building, and is expected to open at Garden City Center in February 2013.



The addition of Pottery Barn, next to Papa Razzi, begins an extension of the Village that will eventually turn former large-format retail space into a mix of mid-size and smaller specialty stores. Later phases include the addition of several new restaurant spaces and improved traffic and pedestrian links to the Whole Foods Market section of the center. Work is also currently underway to transform the Garden City Center gazebo from the end-cap of the Village into the new focal point for the center.



As well, Williams-Sonoma will open a new store, before Thanksgiving 2012. The newly expanded store will open diagonally across from its current store. The new 5,400-sq.-ft. store is approximately 40% larger than Williams Sonoma’s current space and will feature the company’s newest exterior design. The new long-term lease continues a 20-year presence at Garden City Center for Williams-Sonoma.



In late June 2012, Ann Taylor will be opening its second Rhode Island store at Garden City Center. The 4,700-sq.-ft. store will be located in the Village, joining its sister store Loft.



Also new to Garden City Center and Rhode Island is European Wax, which will be located in a 1,787-sq.-ft. store near Whole Foods Market and is anticipated to open in August. Additionally Dansko Clogs by Alexander’s, Soma Intimates and Edible Arrangements recently opened stores in the Village.