Williams-Sonoma opens today at Ponce City Market in Atlanta with a comprehensive Williams-Sonoma Home showroom featuring a dedicated Design Center. This will be the retailer’s eighth location nationally to include a Williams-Sonoma Home Showroom and the first in the South. Doors open to the public at 10:00 a.m. with programs throughout the weekend including a book signing with country music superstar and best-selling cookbook author, Trisha Yearwood. The store features a direct pass-through to Chef Jonathan Waxman’s latest dining venture, which has been appointed by Williams-Sonoma. A glass wall strategically placed between the restaurant and Williams-Sonoma will offer guests an immersive culinary experience with an exclusive view into the dining room, while simultaneously lending inspiration while they shop. This type floor plan is the first in Williams-Sonoma’s history with an independent business. “Williams-Sonoma has long been the standard bearer of the culinary experience for home cooks in America; we are honored to be a part of their innovation in the lifestyle space with the new store format and collaboration with Jonathan Waxman”

“The partnership we’ve established with Jamestown for our Ponce City Market store is unprecedented,” Williams-Sonoma President Janet Hayes remarks. “This location represents a shared vision for a completely new retail experience that brings together the community to shop, cook, dine and be entertained. We’re thrilled with the opportunity to collaborate with Chef Jonathan Waxman as well on his restaurant and for the excitement he will bring to our culinary program here.”

The owner of Ponce City Market, Atlanta-based national real estate investment and management company, Jamestown, L.P., joined forces with both Williams-Sonoma and Jonathan Waxman on their respective spaces. “Williams-Sonoma has long been the standard bearer of the culinary experience for home cooks in America; we are honored to be a part of their innovation in the lifestyle space with the new store format and collaboration with Jonathan Waxman,” said Michael Phillips, Jamestown.

Williams-Sonoma’s new location at Ponce City Market boasts over 6,500 square feet of retail space, including an expansive Williams-Sonoma Home showroom with Design Center offering complimentary design services with a complete selection of custom fabrics, swatches of wood finishes, and rug samples available onsite or in-home. Atlantans are invited every Saturday for free technique classes at the modern, twelve-seat cooking island in the center of the store hosted by Williams-Sonoma culinary specialist Jon Lagardere. Younger aspiring cooks are invited to the store every Sunday for free Junior Chef Classes. Williams-Sonoma has partnered with over 50 artisanal, small-batch food producers throughout the country as part of the company’s commitment to community at the new Ponce City Market location. The assortment will include featured representation of artisans from Atlanta and throughout the South.

Williams-Sonoma celebrates the grand opening with a weekend of events, demonstrations, and prizes. Throughout the weekend vendors from Le Creuset, Nespresso and Shun will host workshops, including free knife sharpening.

Additional activities are listed below:

• Friday, August 28^th Chef Sarah Simmons of New York City’s acclaimed “Birds & Bubbles” restaurant hosts fried chicken cooking demonstrations from 11:00a.m. to 1:00p.m.

• Friday, August 28^th the store hosts a pop-up, local “Peach Market” featuring Georgia-based vendors, including Atomic Ice Cream Sandwiches, and Preserving Place offering peach themed products from 2:00p.m. to 4:00p.m.

• Friday, August 28^th Chef Steven Satterfield of Atlanta’s award-winning Miller Union restaurant signs copies of his new book “Root to Leaf” and hosts a recipe tasting from 2:00p.m. to 4:00p.m. Tickets are required and can be purchased in advance at http://bit.ly/WSStevenSatterfield.

• Saturday, August 29^th country music superstar, Food Network standout, and best-selling cookbook author Trisha Yearwood hosts a special signing of her book “Trisha’s Table: My Feel-Good Favorites for a Balanced Life” from 1:00p.m. to 3:00p.m. Tickets are required and can be purchased in advance at http://bit.ly/WSTrishaYearwood.

• Sunday, August 30^th Chef Billy Allin of Decatur, Georgia’s Cakes & Ale restaurant hosts a cooking demonstration at 12:00p.m.

The first 50 shoppers on Friday, Saturday and Sunday spending $25 or more will receive a free “Open Kitchen” canvas bag with their purchase. The store will also launch an in-store sweepstakes to celebrate the opening with an “Ultimate Atlanta Getaway” prize package that includes a two-night stay at the Mandarin Oriental, Atlanta with a signature “Peaches and Cream” spa journey for two and a cooking class for two at Williams-Sonoma Ponce City Market.

The store is located at 675 Ponce de Leon Ave. NE, NW127, Atlanta, GA 30308. Store hours are 10:00a.m. to 9:00p.m. Monday through Saturday and 12:00p.m. to 7:00p.m. on Sunday. For more information on the store, ticket information and opening event schedule, visit www.williams-sonoma.com or call (410) 810-7486.