Harbor East welcomes a new retailer this weekend.
Arhaus Furniture, an upscale fixtures outlet with 28 locations across the country, today celebrates its grand opening at 660 Exeter St. in Baltimore City.
“We?ve seen how great the harbor area has become and how it?s grown,” Arhaus spokeswoman Anne Elshaw said. “It seems furniture retailers are needed in the area, with all of the condo construction. Baltimore is really a destination for people to live.”
The company, founded in 1986 in Cleveland, Ohio, sells handcrafted furniture assembled by skilled artisans one piece at a time.
“All of our products are made exclusively for Arhaus,” Elshaw said. “These are one-of-a-kind pieces that you won?t see anywhere else.”
Arhaus targets higher-end buyers, with a focus on professional woman ages 25 to 50, Elshaw said.
Pieces range in price from several hundred to several thousand dollars.
“Our products are always a great story to tell for our customers,” Elshaw said.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, furniture sales are up 3 percent for the year, nearly hitting $59 billion for the first six months of 2007.
Arhaus has been a green company from its first day of operation, using natural materials to construct its furniture, Elshaw said.
“We have been environmentally friendly since day one,” Elshaw said. “We only use renewable and recyclable products.”
The company employs 12 to 15 employees at its Harbor East location, with design consultants who help customers select pieces that fit the customer?s home.
Arhaus? opening adds to the high-end retail center Harbor East has become, said George Sakellaris, owner of Handbags and the City, a luxury handbag boutique located on Exeter Street.
“We welcome any high-end business to this part of town,” Sakellaris said. “This is the place where all high-end businesses want to be, especially because the Four Seasons Hotel.”
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