Furnished fantasy

A new store for Arhaus, a fashion-forward, high-end furniture chain with more than 50 stores nationwide, is a strange combination of an exhilarating yet laborious process for Gary Babcock.

The chief creative officer for Cleveland-based Arhaus, Babcock's job is to oversee the formation of a “fantasyland of home furnishings” out of a concrete box. The creation lasts up to 18 months, from concept to store opening, and includes a mix of hurry-up-and-wait with organized chaos. In total, Babcock says creating an Arhaus store from scratch, which he does with a team of around 40 people, is “like birthing a child.”

The latest delivery is a new Arhaus store in the Mall at University Town Center in Sarasota that opened Feb. 27. The store is loaded with details and features to attract customers, and, ultimately, drive both in-store sales and online purchases. It's the fourth Florida location for Arhaus, joining others in Naples, Palm Beach and Jacksonville.