Light My Fire

Cult-fave glass art from Pacific Northwest blows into Dallas' NorthPark Center

A cult favorite in the Pacific Northwest, glassybaby has made its way to Dallas, opening its newest store — and the first in Texas — in NorthPark Center.

More than just beautifully crafted glass votives, drinking glasses, and vases, glassybaby embodies love, craftsmanship, and heartfelt giving, making it the perfect gift for Valentine's Day and year-round.

A gift with meaning
Forget flowers this V-Day and give a gift that will be cherished forever. Each glassybaby is uniquely handcrafted in the U.S. by skilled artisans — over 70 of them — who receive fair wages and on-the-job training.

A company built on giving, glassybaby has donated over $15 million to charitable causes since its founding. In Dallas, a portion of every sale benefits Cancer Support Community North Texas, as well as other local organizations like the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Cattle Barons Ball, the Nasher Sculpture Center, and more.

Founder Lee Rhodes is a three-time lung cancer survivor who started glassybaby in her garage 20 years ago. Rhodes had the idea while undergoing chemotherapy when she lit a candle in a piece of art glass and felt healing from it, and wanted others to feel the same.

Each glassybaby piece is named and includes a sentiment card with a poem — for example, the "friendship" candle holders enhance their meaning with:

one silver, the other gold,
but both are equally valuable.
we treasure new and old friendship.
it can remind us of the times
and show us a new perspective.

"We are thrilled to be part of the Dallas community," says Rhodes. “For two decades, glassybaby has produced beautiful, handmade glass votives that give back to the community and promote hope and healing. We can’t wait to expand this mission in the greater Dallas area.”

Experience in-person
While shopping online is convenient, there’s something special about experiencing glassybaby in person. Each piece is uniquely handcrafted, making every glassybaby one-of-a-kind.

At the NorthPark store, you can see the nuances in color, feel the weight of the glass, and select the perfect piece that resonates with you. Plus, exclusive artist-edition pieces are only available in-store.

The ultimate Valentine’s Day gift guide
Valentine’s Day isn’t just about romance — it’s about celebrating all kinds of love. Whether it’s for a significant other, best friend, family member, or even yourself, glassybaby has the perfect gift to express how you feel.

For your true love: "heart over heels," "amore," "smooch," or "xo" – Beautiful candle holders that symbolize deep love and passion, perfect for Valentine’s Day, weddings, or anniversaries.
For your best buds: "galentine," "horoscope," or "fabulous" — Light up your pal's day with a reminder of how amazing they are.

glassybaby NorthPark A curated Valentine's Day collection awaits in-store.Photo by ASHGPHOTO

Photo by ASHGPHOTO

The new NorthPark Center store is open and ready for browsing.

The gift of glassybaby is appropriate all year and for all sorts of occasions. Each one-of-a kind piece of glass art comes with a distinctive name and inspirational poem to signify a special sentiment, such as Hope, Courage, Strength, and Gratitude, among many others.

With this in mind, here are some ideas for special life moments and thoughtful gestures:

"new leaf" rocker — A meaningful gift for a new dad, recent graduate, or someone embarking on a new journey.
"sunday drinker" – Get a set of these handblown drinking glasses for a perfect housewarming gift.
"awesome ain’t easy" – Celebrate a friend’s success with this encouragement-filled candle holder to remind them of all their hard work.
"wisdom" – A beautiful birthday gift for someone who inspires you.
"open window" – A thoughtful way to cheer up a friend and remind them they’re loved, even in difficult times.
"faith" bloomette – A stunning vase, perfect for sending flowers with a heartfelt touch.
"hugs" – Because everyone needs one, and this candle holder is a warm and meaningful way to show you care.

While hostess gifts like flowers die and chocolates get eaten, a gorgeous glassybaby piece lasts forever.

"open window" offers hope and encouragement.Photo courtesy of glassybaby

Special offer for CultureMap readers
As a welcome to Dallas, glassybaby is offering CultureMap readers an exclusive gift with purchase. Use code CultureMap in-store to receive a complimentary box of 16 palm-wax candles. The new location is located on NorthPark Center's Level One near Nordstrom in the retail space formerly occupied by Diptyque.

Swedish meatballs are coming

Furniture fave IKEA reveals grand opening date for Rockwall store

IKEA

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The newest IKEA store in Dallas-Fort Worth is ready to open its doors: IKEA Rockwall, located at 1801 E. Interstate 30, will debut on Wednesday, May 13.

According to a release, the Swedish-born furniture company will say hallå to Rockwall with some fanfare on May 13, beginning with giveaways, coffee, and cinnamon buns at 7 am, followed by remarks from VIPs at 9:45 am. Customers can line up as early as 7 am and doors will open to customers starting at 10 am.

Ikea is the world's largest furniture retailer, founded in 1943 by Ingvar Kamprad, and known for its simple, modern approach to interior design at an affordable price, its ready-to-assemble furniture, and its amusement-park-like stores.

Ikea Rockwall will be the anchor in a 65-plus acre mixed-use development with a location chosen for its accessibility not only to the east side of DFW but also to major highways that connect to faraway cities like Texarkana and Little Rock.

According to a release, the store represents Ikea's intention to become more accessible, affordable, and convenient for the many here in the U.S., and the store will offer a new way of reaching customers both in-store and digitally.

“Opening IKEA Rockwall is a big moment for us, not only because it’s our ninth store in Texas, but because it’s our first ground-up build since 2019,” says Rob Olson, interim CEO of IKEA U.S., in the release. “This milestone underscores our confidence in the future of this market and in our mission to create better everyday life at home through affordable, well-designed solutions.”

The store's footprint is 108,000 square feet — almost a third smaller than the behemoth locations in Frisco and Grand Prairie, which both span 293,000-plus square feet — and more on par with the new IKEA Dallas - University Park store that opened in Dallas in March.

The single-level Rockwall store features over 6,000 products and dozens of fully furnished room settings, with more than 3,800 items ready for immediate takeaway, the release says. In a "central planning area," customers can receive personalized design consultations from IKEA experts for kitchens, bedrooms, bathrooms and small spaces.

And yes, there will be the famous Swedish meatballs. The new store will include a Swedish Bistro, serving customer favorites like meatballs, plant balls, hot dogs, and veggie dogs.

Additionally, Ikea Rockwall’s design will include features for improved sustainability, specifically solar power, LEED certified construction, EV chargers, onsite recycling and native plant materials to reduce water consumption.

An "as-is section" will offer gently used and discontinued items at discounted prices, "giving products a second life and helping customers furnish their homes more sustainably and affordably," they say.

“We’re proud to open IKEA Rockwall as a reflection of our commitment to the community it serves,” says Ben Sandoval, market manager, IKEA U.S. “Our goal is to be a trusted partner for local families by offering well-designed, affordable solutions that support everyday life at home.”

As part of its goal of being a good neighbor, IKEA Rockwall will donate $10,000 to the Children's Advocacy Center for Rockwall County at the grand opening. (Store hours on May 13 will be 10 am-8 pm.)

Once IKEA Rockwall debuts, it will be open 10 am-9 pm Monday-Saturday and 10 am-8 pm Sunday.

rockwall openings ikea