Hawaii’s C.S. Wo expands to California

The company's first mainland store will open next month

Venerable Hawaii furniture and home accessories retailer C.S. Wo & Sons Ltd. is preparing to open its first mainland store, in the new 300,000-square-foot South Coast Home Furnishings Centre in Costa Mesa, Calif.

"We will be one of the featured anchors of the center," said Robert "Bub" Wo, president. Its 20,000 square foot showroom, just past the main entrance to the nine-building complex, has "excellent visibility to the main parking lot and the pedestrian mall."

There are three main entrances and windows on all sides of the store, he said.

Though half the size of C.S. Wo's Honolulu store, the Wo family feels the California store "will be able to achieve close to the same sales volume," said Wendell Wo, a vice president.

The store will carry many of the same brands as Hawaii's C.S. Wo Gallery stores.

Wendell Wo said the products that the company imports directly from the Philippines, China and Thailand will set it apart it from other California furniture stores.

The company will focus on branding the C.S. Wo name and targeting a niche market.

"C.S. Wo is very excited to enter the California market," said Robert Wo. He said the outlet "will be quite unique and different from anyone else in the market."

The Wo family will have a blessing ceremony in the middle of next month, with a soft opening June 16 and grand opening in August when most other stores at the complex will be open.