Design Within Reach Opens in the Strip District

PHOTOS COURTESY OF DESIGN WITHIN REACH

Pittsburghers have a new option within reach for outfitting their living space.

Near the end of January, national chain Design Within Reach, which operates close to 80 stores across the country, opened its newest showroom at 1644 Smallman Street in the Strip District. It’s the first Design Within Reach store within the region, and the second in Pennsylvania; the other brick-and-mortar storefront is near Philadelphia.

Located in a converted warehouse, the storefront joins City Winery, Puttshack, Orr’s Jewelers, and a variety of other chain and locally owned businesses in a growing neighborhood.

As the name suggests, the luxury retailer offers an array of furnishings from around the world in a variety of design styles, including Mid-Century Modern and contemporary pieces. Among the offerings are furniture, lighting and decor.

“DWR provides customers with endless opportunities to shape spaces that are deeply personal, boldly individual and uniquely their own,” says Debbie Propst, the president of global retail for MillerKnoll, the collective of design brands that DWR is a part of. “From renowned classics to icons of the future, we curate and create beautifully designed, exceptionally crafted, built‑to‑last pieces that move with you from — even from generation to generation.”

The grand opening marks another milestone in the ongoing growth of the Strip District, which has hundreds of housing units slated for construction in the coming months. Filled with high-quality home furnishing, the 8,000-square-foot showroom is meant to satisfy all budgets and styles, according to company officials.

Also noteworthy is the company’s Design Concierge program. Meant to enhance customer experience, the program provides everything from large-scale swatches to detailed 3D renderings; customers are able to walk in with a basic idea for a room and leave with a fully organized plan.

When Propst and her team looked into expanding in Western Pennsylvania, the Strip District felt like the most natural fit, she says. Besides noting Pittsburgh’s strong history in modernist design — which includes architecturally significant buildings such as the U.S. Steel Tower, PPG Place and, of course, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater — Propst also is a fan of the city’s architecture, cultural institutions and thriving creative community.

She adds the industrial character of the new storefront in Strip District aligns well with DWR’s ethos.

“The double‑height glass exterior, exposed timber ceiling, and steel columns echo the building’s original 1929 heritage as the Pennsylvania Railroad Fruit Auction & Sales Building — and we intentionally honored that history throughout our store design,” Propst says. “This location allows us to serve a growing audience of homeowners, designers, and local businesses in an inspiring, design‑forward environment.”