RH signs lease for its first gallery in Orange County

It was the day after election day and Newport Beach, Calif., Mayor Brad Avery was ecstatic. Not because he’d won another four years, but because RH had signed a lease to erect an 80,000-sq.-ft. store in his town.

“Few communities in the country are fortunate enough to be chosen for an RH Design Gallery, and this is a major win,”Avery gushed.

The Irvine Company announced this week that RH (formerly known as Restoration Hardware) had signed a lease to open at Fashion Island, its luxe center on the beach that’s home to such brands as Bloomingdales, Armani, Chanel, Neiman Marcus, Lululemon, and Johnny Was. Now it will have the distinction of being the site of an RH Gallery, where discerning furniture shoppers can acquire a track armchair for $3,595 or a hand-knotted rug for $4,725. They will also be able to dine in style. Zagat’s named RH’s Chicago eatery one of the towns “10 Sexiest Restaurants.”

“RH Newport Beach reflects our vision to create architecturally inspiring and immersive spaces that blur the lines between residential and retail, indoors and outdoors, home and hospitality,” said RH chairman and CEO Gary Friedman.

RH wanted its gallery in Newport Beach to overlook the Pacific Ocean, so Fashion Island will be relocating merchants currently located there to other parts of the center. Each of the gallery’s three floors will be themed—interiors, outdoor, and modern—and will be populated with 100-year-old heritage olive trees.

Construction is scheduled to begin next year in anticipation of a Spring 2024 opening.