Case Study: Wilkes Bashford creates a luxury, welcoming flagship store with Gensler

Wilkes Bashford doubles Palo Alto flagship to 28,000 square feet with Gensler

Wilkes Bashford, a luxury retailer owned by the Mitchell family, required a new flagship store that would double the size of its previous Palo Alto location. Their challenge was to create a space that seamlessly fused high-end luxury with a warm, approachable, and personalized shopping experience. The architecture and design firm Gensler was engaged to provide interior design services for this retail and consumer experience project.

Gensler designed a 28,000-square-foot store that blends a sophisticated Italian coastal aesthetic with Northern California's airy lightness. The solution included a central coffee bar that doubles as a cash-wrap, an exterior terrace, and an upper-level private sales retreat with a fireplace and kitchen to host events. The design successfully created an aspirational yet welcoming environment tailored to the Wilkes Bashford clientele. For its design excellence, the Gensler-designed store was recognized with a Shop! Retail Design Silver award in 2025.

Wilkes Bashford