After more than 40 years of memories, today, Monday, July 31st 2017 marks the final day for Ward Warehouse’s existence since opening way back in 1975. For many of us, this is the sad end of an era. The closing of an iconic, truly “local” shopping center that quite possibly played host to our first shopping experience without our parents, first date at Spaghetti Factory (or Kincaid’s depending on your budget), and many other firsts.
For me, it hits home a little harder because I have personal friends who own/run stores like Eden in Love, Paina Cafe, The Cut, and RIX, who are being affected by this closure. Stephanie and Darrell Ching, owners of Novel-T World, were also the first to give my apparel brand VH07V its first shot at retail when they took a chance on me/it back in 2012. And lastly, thanks to the generosity of the Howard Hughes Corporation, we were able to find our “home” at Ward Village and throw our first Rice Fest event here at Ward Warehouse, after bouncing around from location to location in years prior.
My mother-in-law was able to visit one last time today and sent over some photos that made me reminisce and actually inspired me to write this blog. I wish nothing but success for the 60 or so displaced businesses as well as the future plans for The Gateway towers that will be taking its place. I just hope that the retail stores on the ground floor will give us a flashback of what Ward Warehouse was to many of us…
Per the Star-Advertiser, here are what some of the tenants will be doing post Ward Warehouse:
- Cinnamon Girl: Moved to Hyatt Regency Pualeilani Atrium Shops
- Clay Cafe: Still looking for a new location for clay-painting classes
- The Cut: Designers Allison Izu and Summer Shiige will reopen as Allison Izu/Ten Tomorrow Design House at 1114 11th Ave. in Kaimuki. A grand opening is planned for 2 to 6 p.m. July 22.
- Eden in Love: Moved to Ward Village’s South Shore Market. A second location will open Aug. 1 in the Town Square Las Vegas, 6671 S. Las Vegas Blvd.
- TheFaceShop: A move nearby is planned. For now, its other shops are at Kahala Mall, McCully Shopping Center, Waimalu Plaza and Windward Mall.
- Honolulu Cookie Co.: Opened its newest location at International Market Place, ground floor
- Island Guitars: Moving to Nimitz Center, 1130 N. Nimitz Highway, 2nd floor
- Island Soap & Candle Works: Shop at Royal Hawaiian Center or online at honolulusoap.com.
- Kaypee Soh: The designer is relocating his business to California but intends to return frequently. His collections will be available online at kaypeesoh.com. His accessories and homewares will also be available at T Gallery by DFS in Waikiki.
- Kincaid’s: Some of the restaurant’s most beloved dishes have already migrated to the menu of Ryan’s Grill at Ward Centre. The dishes include seafood Louie salad, rock-salt-roasted prime rib, warm brie with macadamia nut crust, Asiago-almond-crusted scallops, roasted Dijon chicken, Broadway pea salad and burnt cream (brulee).
- Loco Boutique: Shop at store locations at Ala Moana Center or 358 Royal Hawaiian Ave., or online at locoboutique.com.
- MORI by Art & Flea: Moved to Ward Village’s South Shore Market
- Nohea Gallery: Opening next month at Hyatt Regency Pualeilani Atrium Shops
- Novel-T World: Will do online sales with periodic pop-up events.
- Ocean Queen: Still looking for a new location to sell Himalayan/Tibetan handcrafted items. The Haleiwa store at 66-208 Kamehameha Highway remains open.
- Old Spaghetti Factory: Moving to the former Chai’s Island Bistro space at Aloha Tower Marketplace
- Rix Island Wear: Reopened at Ala Moana Center’s Ewa Wing, third floor
- Wedding Cafe: Opening soon at 814 Ilaniwai St.
