RH Chicago Opens with Grand Architecture, Restaurant Concepts, Debut of RH Modern and RH Teen

CORTE MADERA, CA - RH (Restoration Hardware Holdings, Inc.) announced Wednesday the opening of RH Chicago, The Gallery at the Three Arts Club on Chicago's famed Gold Coast. The new retail concept marks the brand's initial foray into hospitality with a culinary offering by celebrated restaurateur Brendan Sodikoff  which includes the 3 Arts Club Café, the 3 Arts Club Wine Vault & Tasting Room, and the 3 Arts Club Pantry & Espresso Bar.

"It was clear from the moment we saw the Three Arts Club that this was a rare opportunity to build a 'field of dreams' - a lasting gift to the city of Chicago - where we could reimagine the retail experience by blurring the lines between residential and retail, indoors and outdoors, home and hospitality," says RH Chairman & CEO Gary Friedman. "With great admiration for the building's history and architecture, we are reestablishing this landmark's relevance by harmoniously incorporating aspirational interior and exterior installations with an integrated hospitality concept unlike anything that exists in retail."

The Gallery features the first in-store presentation of RH's newest business concepts, RH Modern and RH TEEN. RH Chicago spans nearly 70,000 total square feet across six floors, unveiling a glass-and-steel-enclosed Grand Courtyard, a Rooftop Park & Conservatory and a Lounge with Historic Performance Stage. RH Chicago marks Friedman's continued collaboration with design architect James Gillam of Backen, Gillam & Kroeger, a firm recognized as one of Architectural Digest's Top 100 Architect and Design firms in the world.

The landmark building was designed in 1914 by architectural firm Holabird & Roche and was inaugurated as a residence for young women studying music, drama and the visual arts. Honoring its cultural significance and singular place in Chicago's urban landscape, the entire structure has been restored with great respect for its original vision in collaboration with the Commission on Chicago Landmarks, and now brought back to life with dramatic artistic abstractions and never-before-seen collections of luxury home furnishings in a gallery setting.

On the main level, guests will experience the historic courtyard, which for the first time in the building's history is functional year round with the addition of a new pyramidal glass and steel structure, creating a conservatory inside the building that soars to 20 feet at its apex. Suspended from this center point directly above the Courtyard's circular - and newly restored - 12-foot historic fountain is a stunning eight-foot rococo crystal and iron chandelier.

From the Courtyard's perimeter, visitors will be able to pass freely through eight reopened archways that lead to each room on the main level, including the historic living room with its reclaimed fireplaces and the loggia groin-vaulted ceilings and original herringbone brick floors. The living room now plays host to the 3 Arts Club Wine Vault & Tasting Room. Visitors will enjoy artistic installations of luxury home furnishings from renowned designers and global artisans in a setting enhanced by the Club's intricate mosaics, decorative tile work and striking frescoes - all of which have been restored to their original glory.

Ben Soleimani Rug Showroom

On the second level, visitors will discover the RH Design Atelier - a dedicated 3,000-square-foot studio anchored by a custom 30-foot table for interior designers, architects and guests to conceptualize highly personalized, inspiring spaces. The Design Atelier will include RH's vast library of fabrics, leathers and furniture finishes, as well as the latest technology and capabilities to support an unprecedented level of design services. Also featured will be an exclusive Ben Soleimani rug showroom displaying the fourth-generation designer's hand-knotted and hand-woven rugs and other specialized galleries for window treatments, bed and bath linens and bath hardware. The new RH Chicago will showcase the most comprehensive rug assortment of all galleries thus far. A new RH Modern rug collection by Soleimani is being shipped in from weaving facilities but may be ordered online prior to their debut shortly at the store.

The third level will feature the first physical expression of RH TEEN as well as a RH Baby & Child gallery. Here, guests will find tasteful, high-quality furnishings for children and young adults that are distinctive in their own right, but blend seamlessly with the rest of the home.

Level four is an 11,000-square-foot exhibition space featuring the first in-gallery presentation of RH Modern, the largest curated and fully-integrated assortment of modern furnishings, lighting and décor under one brand in the world.  Developed in collaboration with revered global designers, RH Modern represents a fresh and innovative point of view defined by a minimalist aesthetic and maximum comfort. RH Contemporary Art - which has been integrated into RH Modern - will also be showcased with original works from a globally curated roster of artists.

Outdoor Vignettes

At the top of the grand stair, guests will arrive at the new Rooftop Park & Conservatory. Here, they will discover a one-of-a-kind destination featuring banana palms, sculptural evergreens and exotic succulents, as well as a second RH Design Atelier for outdoor living. Open-air pavilions with billowing shade canopies, glimmering chandeliers, giant pyramidal topiaries, boxwood hedges, trickling fountains and panoramic views of old Chicago will showcase intimate vignettes of RH Outdoor furnishings.

Hospitality Experience

Guests can enjoy an ingredient-driven menu of breakfast, lunch and dinner in the central garden courtyard sitting under the heritage olive trees, appreciate a glass of wine from the curated list in the dramatic Wine Vault & Tasting Room, or grab their favorite coffee drink and a daily selection of Doughnut Vault donuts or pastries from the 3 Arts Club Pantry & Espresso Bar.

"I could not be more excited and honored to be collaborating with Brendan and his team on this first-of-its-kind project," Friedman said.  "I found Brendan's experience, working with chefs Alain Ducasse in Paris and Thomas Keller at The French Laundry in Yountville, and his vision to infuse the care and concern for cooking that exists at those famed establishments into the foods that we eat everyday inspiring." Friedman concluded, "Being recognized for creating the best cheeseburger in America at Au Cheval by Bon Appétit and the Food Network, and also the best donut for consecutive years at Doughnut Vault is no small feat."

Brendan Sodikoff, Founder, Chef & CEO of Hogsalt Hospitality, added, "Rarely a project comes along that I feel an instant connection to.  The team, location, history of the building and architecture captivated me." Sodikoff continued, "On my first walk-through of the space I could imagine myself dining under the glass atrium, a garden sanctuary tucked away in Chicago's Gold Coast."