Wayfair is getting ready to move from your browser to your shopping cart in North Columbus, with its first Ohio store set to open in the Polaris area on Thursday, June 18, 2026, at 10 a.m. The new location is a smaller-format prototype that will stock furniture, mattresses, appliances, and décor, and offer in-store design services. A full grand-opening celebration is slated for the weekend of June 26–28, complete with discounts, giveaways, and special events.
Smaller Store, Big Test
The Columbus store will come in at roughly 70,000 square feet, about half the size of Wayfair’s larger-format locations, as the company tests whether a tighter footprint can still deliver a full home-shopping experience. In a company release, Wayfair said many items will be available for immediate take-home, while larger pieces will be delivered through its logistics network, and in-store design zones will provide personalized help for room refreshes. “As we scale our retail strategy, we are focused on both expansion and experimentation,” said Liza Lefkowski, Wayfair’s vice president of merchandising and stores, in the announcement, which is available from Wayfair Inc.
Opening-Day Deals And Grand-Opening Hype
Doors will open to shoppers at 10 a.m. on June 18, and the real party kicks in June 26–28, when Wayfair plans a bigger grand-opening event with discounts of up to 70 percent and giveaways, including $50 gift cards for the first 100 customers each day, according to The Columbus Dispatch. The Dispatch reports those promos are part of a broader push to pump up summer foot traffic at Polaris. Shoppers are advised to keep an eye on Wayfair’s event listings for any schedule tweaks and details on in-store programming.
Why Polaris Got The Nod
The Columbus store will fill a former big-box space adjacent to Polaris Fashion Place, backfilling a high-profile retail site that brokers and industry watchers say will tighten vacancy in the area. Commercial real-estate firm CoStar identified the property as the former Art Van Furniture building, while coverage in Furniture Today noted the site sits just off I-71 near the mall. With several new tenants and entertainment projects landing in recent months, Wayfair’s arrival is another signal that national retailers view the Polaris cluster as a testing ground.
Inside The New Store
Shoppers can expect room vignettes, a wide mix of décor and housewares, and staff-run design consultations similar to what Wayfair offers in its other physical stores. Industry coverage says the retailer leans on carry-out for smaller goods and taps local fulfillment to deliver larger furniture, a model it has used at other openings, per Business of Home. If the Columbus prototype performs well, analysts say Wayfair will use the takeaways to fine-tune store formats in other markets.
Wayfair’s Polaris debut adds another national experiment to a growing cluster of new retail concepts in north Columbus and gives local shoppers a chance to see much of the Wayfair catalog up close. For the latest on hours, events, and in-store services, check the company announcement and local coverage linked above.
