The specialty home furnishing chain Pier 1 Imports celebrated the grand opening of their second Marin location this last weekend, just in time for Black Friday shopping frenzy.
Although Pier 1 opened in Montecito Shopping Center late October, they celebrated their grand opening on Nov. 17 and 18. The retail giant moved in to the 5,632-square-foot location that was vacated by Silver Screen Video at the beginning of the year. Seagate Properties, owners of the shopping center, worked with Pier 1 for six months to close the deal.
"It's a location that a national tenant would be attracted to due to the parking lot," Seagate representative Wick Polite told Patch in October when Pier 1 first put up signs. "It's a natural fit for their consumers."
Pier 1 Imports will be close to other national chains, including Trader Joe's and Petco. The new tenant, located at 409 Third St., will bring the retail occupancy rate for the shopping center close to 100 percent, with a few office spaces vacant on the second floor, according to Polite.
“We are pleased to bring this new Pier 1 Imports to San Rafael and hope that our new location will inspire customers to discover the eclectic and fun merchandise that is unique to Pier 1 Imports,” the chain's C.E.O. Alex W. Smith said in a statement.
In 2009, Pier 1 Imports closed its doors at its Terra Linda location at 155 Northgate One after problems with a lease. At the time, Corte Madera Town Center and Vintage Oaks in Novato both housed to the retail giant. Now, the only other Pier 1 is in Vintage Oaks.
Pier 1 Imports opened its first store in San Mateo in 1962, and now operates more than 1,000 stores nationwide. The San Rafael location is the 111th location in California.
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