I.O. Metro to grand-open 3 Atlanta-area furniture stores

HGTV star Vern Yip will appear at Sept. 14-16 events

Clint Engel -- Furniture Today, August 30, 2010

ATLANTA — Specialty lifestyle furniture retailer I.O. Metro will make its Georgia debut with grand openings at three Atlanta-area showrooms September 14-16, its first time opening multiple stores back-to-back.

HGTV star Vern Yip will greet consumers and offer design advice from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at each store opening.

The 10.000-square-foot stores are opening in The Avenue open-air lifestyle shopping centers, with grand opening celebrations Sept. 14 at The Avenue Webb Gin in Snellville, Ga.; Sept. 15 at The Avenue Forsyth in Cumming, Ga.; and Sept. 16 at The Avenue West Cobb in Marietta, Ga.

Since launching in 2005, Lowell, Ark.-based I.O. Metro has expanded to 21 locations in eight states: Arkansas, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas.

The retailer's eclectic furniture, art, lighting and accessories includes an eco-friendly line and handmade pieces. I.O. Metro also offers custom upholstery and free in-home design services.

"After success in small and mid-sized markets, we felt it was time to expand to a large city with multiple locations, and The Avenue was a perfect fit for us," said I.O. Metro CEO Jay Howard.
"And what better way to help introduce our fresh look and unique furniture and decor than with the support of one of Atlanta's own, Vern Yip, known for his great ideas and value-conscious designs."

Yip operates design firm Vern Yip Designs. On HGTV, he stars in "Deserving Design with Vern Yip" and appears in the prime time series "HGTV Design Star," and in a special launching this fall, "Urban Oasis," he'll scour New York for its best home decor.
I.O. Metro's design consultants also will offer design tips during the grand opening. The retailer is also giving away a $10,000 room makeover, and consumers can register to win at http://www.io-metro.com/giveaway.asp.