B.C.’s first Crate & Barrel (650 West 41^st Avenue) is slated to open at Oakridge Centre on Thursday (March 21). Last year saw the opening of Vancouver’s first CB2 store, an offshoot of the Chicago-born home furnishings and décor retailer. The Vancouver Crate & Barrel is the fifth location in Canada, with other stores in Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec.

Crate & Barrel was founded in the 1962 when newlyweds Gordon and Carole Segal were looking to buy contemporary-style furniture that mimicked pieces they admired while on their honeymoon in Europe. When they came up short, the Segals returned to Europe to purchase home décor and kitchenware items to sell and had them shipped to the States in—you guessed it—crates and barrels.

Similar to other home furnishing and décor retail chains, such as CB2, West Elm, and Ikea, Crate & Barrel carries a range of products, including indoor and outdoor furniture, kitchenware and dining pieces, bedroom and bathroom accessories, lighting, rugs, storage, and décor items. Crate & Barrel also sells housewares by colourful Finnish design company Marimekko.

The Vancouver location will occupy 27,000 square feet in the north-east corner of Oakridge Mall. Doors open Thursday at 9:30 a.m.