Robb & Stucky opens outdoor showroom, names vp, manager and executive chef

Staff -- Casual Living, 5/1/2005 12:00:00 AM

The new Robb & Stucky Casual Living Outdoor showroom celebrated its grand opening this spring in Bonita Springs, Fla., featuring a KitchenAid Culinary Center with space for 65 people for classes and events.

"This new concept provides a one-stop showplace for customers who are building or remodeling a home," said Robb & Stucky CEO Clive Lubner.

The center includes an extensive line of KitchenAid grills with all the accessories needed for an outdoor kitchen. Martin Murphy was named executive chef of the center and will oversee the facility.

Visual merchandising manager and accessory buyer Michael Hayes was named general manager of the new showroom. Hayes has worked with the company for seven years.

"Our newest casual living and outdoor store will completely change the consumer's idea about what a retail space can be," Hayes said. "By partnering with the best, we are able to provide our clients with access to the finest products for the inside and outside of their homes. And the KitchenAid Culinary Center at Robb & Stucky will offer our community the opportunity to learn from the finest chefs from our area and from all over the world."

The showroom is themed around three gathering places in the home — the kitchen, family room and outdoor area.

Jon Rubinstein has joined Robb & Stucky as vice president of the company's five-store outdoor and casual living division.

He is responsible for developing and implementing a strategy to aggressively grow the division in the next five years, opening new stores and entering new markets. He reports to Lubner.

Casual Creations by Superior Furniture announced sales rep hires in the United States. Robin E. Mitchell was named a sales rep for north Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina; Lisa Kartz for south Florida and Joel Cohn will rep New York, New Jersey, Eastern Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland.

The Astrup Company recently announced the retirement of Robert C. Weldon, vice president and manager of the Illinois Distribution Center. Though retired, Weldon will continue work on a part-time basis. Ronald J. Paratore was promoted to manager and Dan Litster to assistant manager of the center.

Gloster Furniture named David Meeks contract sales manager for North and South America. Meeks can be reached by phone at 434-575-1003, extension 110 or by e-mail at dmeeks@gloster.com.