DUMBO — Empire Stores, the former coffee warehouse at Brooklyn Bridge Park, is reopening this month for the first time since the 1950s with the arrival of West Elm’s new headquarters.
The DUMBO-based furniture and home decor retailer will be relocating its flagship store to the sprawling brick building at 2 Main St. on Aug. 18.
West Elm, which first opened in 2003 at 75 Front St., will be Empire Stores’ anchor tenant, occupying 14,265 square feet on the ground floor.
In addition to a retail store and corporate offices, the new headquarters will feature a coffee bar operated by Brooklyn Roasters, custom art installations including a mural of the Brooklyn Bridge made of reclaimed pine and barn siding, a collection of local products made by 16 New York-based artists and designers, and a design lab where customers can sign up for free in-home consultations.
West Elm will kick off its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and party on Aug. 17. Guests who RSVP can come for live music, coffee-themed desserts, cocktails and 15 percent off in-store purchases. The first 300 shoppers who spend $50 or more will also get a limited edition tote bag designed by Brooklyn-based studio Two Arms.
Proceeds from the party will benefit the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy.
The new West Elm store will be open Monday through Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Empire Stores, which was built shortly after the Civil War as a storage facility for coffee beans and dry goods, is being redeveloped by Midtown Equities. It will be converted into a space for restaurants, offices, retail and a Brooklyn Historical Society satellite museum.
The complex will also include a rooftop beer garden and restaurant.
