dailyloe.com – Walter E. Smithe, an Illinois-based furniture and design company, is set to open a new location in Wilmette’s Edens Plaza. Village officials announced this development during a Village Board meeting on April 28. The company aims to occupy Suite 390, previously home to The Great Escape.
The Great Escape vacated Edens Plaza in late 2025, relocating to a new site in Northbrook. Lisa Brosnan, Wilmette’s business development planner, expressed enthusiasm about the new store, stating, “We’re really excited about this because that’s such a big space.”
Brosnan mentioned that Walter E. Smithe plans to open in 2027 and intends to enhance the space. She noted that the company’s lease at Edens Plaza was “recently signed.”
On April 20, WS Development, the owner of Edens Plaza, informed the Village of Walter E. Smithe’s plans to modify the suite’s interior and exterior. The communication included a “34-page submission package titled ‘Proposed Walter E. Smithe Showroom.’”
Following The Great Escape’s departure, WS Development had considered dividing the large storefront into multiple smaller spaces. However, with Walter E. Smithe’s commitment, there are no plans to alter this approach. Previously, WS Development successfully subdivided the former Bed Bath and Beyond location into three separate spaces.
The addition of Walter E. Smithe marks another significant development for Edens Plaza, which has attracted several high-profile tenants since WS Development acquired the center in late 2021. In 2024, Wayfair opened its first brick-and-mortar store in the mall, taking over the former Carson Pirie Scott site.
Edens Plaza, with its 335,000 square feet of retail space, continues to evolve as a major shopping destination in the area. The arrival of Walter E. Smithe is expected to further enhance the shopping experience for local residents.
