We first opened our doors in 1962 as a family business. Gordon and Carole Segal had just returned from their honeymoon in Europe where they had been amazed by all of the simple, well-designed and affordable things they had purchased for their home back in Chicago. Things like gorgeous handmade glassware, practical but very nice dinnerware and beautiful ceramic serving pieces. They realized that no store in the Midwest had these wonderful, affordable products for people like them who were just starting out. So being young risk-takers and passionate about all they had seen, they set out to introduce this exciting idea to Chicago.

That first store was in an old elevator factory on Wells Street, which was on the verge of becoming a very trendy street with stores, antique shops and restaurants. After taking six months to convince the occupants to move, the Segals had just two weeks to set up shop before the Christmas season began. All of their start-up funds had gone into inventory…so crating lumber was hammered over the battered plaster walls, shelves were covered with dyed burlap, and crates and barrels from the first shipments were turned over to become store fixtures. “Crate and Barrel” wasn’t just a clever name—it was a name based on necessity. Speaking of necessity, the only thing forgotten for opening day was, believe it or not, a cash register.

With a lot of enthusiasm and hard work, the store quickly became a place people were talking about. Gordon and Carole enjoyed getting to know their new customers and sharing firsthand knowledge of their products. Those relationships had a greater impact than any merchandising, display or advertising.

The year 1964 marked the first buying trip to Europe to discover out-of-the-way glass and ceramic factories and ateliers that could produce the unique, affordable merchandise Crate and Barrel customers could not find anywhere else. As the owners, designers and craftsmen became our new friends, each of their products became something more special to us. Each had a history. Each reflected a personality and a lifestyle. Now we could tell a customer not only how something was made and how to use it, but also why it was designed in the first place. And because we imported merchandise directly from European factories, we could pass the savings on to our customers.