OREANDA-NEWS. March 25, 2016. Ethan Allen announced today that the company will open a new retail space to serve the Greater Hampton Roads area following the retirement of their longtime partner there, Bert Crawford, of E.O. Crawford & Sons.

“Bert Crawford and his family have been an integral part of the Ethan Allen family for over 60 years,” said the company’s Chairman, President and CEO Farooq Kathwari. “They have built a well-respected business in Virginia Beach, and we plan to continue that legacy there. We are pleased that Bert will be involved in the transition to the new Design Center. We thank Bert and the entire Crawford family for their dedication to the company and wish them all the best in the future."

Clients can expect a seamless transition from the current Ethan Allen Design Center located on Columbus Street in Virginia Beach to the new location in the Hilltop North Shopping Center on Laskin Road, which will be open by this summer.

"It’s a somewhat bittersweet decision to retire after nearly 50 years,” said Crawford. “My family and I are so grateful for the opportunity we’ve had to develop wonderful relationships with so many people throughout our Hampton Roads community. The new Ethan Allen will be truly unique to our area, offering the newest innovations in product and technology as well as great design service from a very experienced team. I'm confident that clients past and future will really enjoy the new Design Center and all it has to offer!"

So what can area residents expect to see in the new location? A user-friendly Design Center layout that brings Ethan Allen’s robust website to life and an open floor plan featuring design stations and large touchscreens that invite clients to work directly on projects with the company’s design professionals. In addition, they’ll discover hundreds of designs displayed in “shops” and inspirational room settings. Design professionals will continue to staff the new space and can help as little or as much as a client likes to facilitate the creative process and take the guesswork out of design. In-store and in-home consultations will be complimentary, as always.