The doors are now open at the new Frontgate store in Legacy West, but it might take you a while to get all the way inside. That's because 2,500 square feet of the home decor brand's gorgeous, 22,000-square-foot space is devoted to outdoor vignettes, and all those lounge chairs, swivel rockers, and patio poufs are oh-so-inviting.
Most Texans are familiar with Frontgate thanks to its ubiquitous catalogs and heavy online presence — and because until now, Frontgate's only brick-and-mortar store (besides outlet shops) was in Atlanta. The Plano location, which has a prime spot across from the soon-to-be-completed food hall and the high-end development's pavilion, will become the retailer's new flagship store.
Inside the gargantuan showroom, which has its official grand opening scheduled for early September, you'll find furniture, artwork, and accessories are grouped around different home areas: bedroom, bathroom, dining, living, and a seasonal section that currently is a poolside oasis but is promised to be bursting with the brand's signature Christmas decorations come winter.
A bistro bar offers shoppers complimentary beverages, and can be repurposed as a hosting station during the many in-store events that the brand hopes to hold. There are plans to host holiday decor workshops and talks on textile and other design trends, and perhaps even cooking demonstrations. This store, you see, wants to be so much more than just a store where you buy pretty things.
That's why there are also complementary design services, with a fleet of consultants ready help with everything from finding just the right lamp for your boudoir to putting together a fancy tablescape to redoing an entire house from scratch. Two enticing mini-wall displays are a riot of color with all available fabric samples, and customers can take smaller swatches home to test. These designers don't travel, though, so hope you're handy with a tape measurer.
Monogramming is also offered free of charge, and you can stitch your initials onto a variety of soft goods including towels, sheets, blankets, and bathrobes.
Unlike some online brands that open a physical store, the pricing will remain the same no matter how you buy. The shop will have a notable perk though: It will carry several store-only exclusives that you won't find online or in the catalog.
Everyone should have one of these.
