CB2 opens Saturday in Uptown and if tonight’s hopping preview party was any indication, people are excited to welcome Crate & Barrel’s urban contemporary sister store to Hennepin Avenue. What’s nice is the Chicago-based retailer seems equally excited to be here–buyers were planning to check out their competition–er, neighbors–this weekend. There’s a nice little contemporary scene brewing in Uptown, with Roam‘s new store, Design Within Reach, and now CB2′s sprawling one-level store anchoring the corner. This is CB2′s 11th store nationwide.

I was living in Chicago 11 years ago when the first CB2 opened, targeting, well, me. It was clearly a level below Crate & Barrel, focused on inexpensive, but well designed accessories for city dwellers. The store has grown up with me–more clearly defining its contemporary aesthetic and adding furniture, lighting, tableware and accessories galore. Prices are by no means IKEA cheap, but there are fewer 1s in front of the sofa prices, which is reassuring…even all these years after college. 3045 Hennepin Ave. S., Mpls.