Kirkland Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at Realogics Sotheby's International Realty

KIRKLAND MAYOR AMY WALEN TO ATTEND RIBBON CUTTING AT GRAND OPENING OF REALOGICS SOTHEBY'S INTERNATIONAL REALTY AND LIFESTYLE RETAIL CENTER "Connoisseurs of Life Showroom" Features Exclusive Properties, DeLille Cellars Wine Bar, Art Gallery, Fine Furnishing and Technology Showcase in Unique Events Venue February 27, 2014 (Kirkland, WA) – Representatives of Realogics Sotheby's International Realty and Senior Vice President of Global Operations, Fran Santangelo will be joined by Kirkland Mayor Amy Walen, members of the community and dozens of brokers and retail partners today to celebrate the official opening of the Connoisseurs of Life Showroom – a retail lifestyle showcase converging homes, art and wine in the heart of downtown Kirkland. WHO:             Kirkland Mayor Amy Walen, Executives from Global Realty Network & High-Profile Retail Partners WHAT:           Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting & Celebration of Unique 3,200-SF Lifestyle Retail Showcase WHERE:         15 Lake Street, Downtown Kirkland WHEN:          Thursday, February 27th 2014 (2:00-3:00pm) – Ribbon Cutting at 2:30pm WHY:                         Preview Showroom, Meet Retail Partners & Experience Cutting-Edge Retail Concept Retail partners include: Realogics Sotheby's International Realty, DeLille Cellars (Maison DeLille), LightArt®, Wipliance, Masins, Alchemy Collections, Cobalt Mortgage, The Island Gallery and The Snap Bar."We have created a retail experience that's far greater than a one dimensional real estate brokerage," says Dean Jones, President & CEO of Realogics Sotheby's International Realty.  "The Connoisseurs of Life Showroom is a community living room where consumers and premier lifestyle brands can interact while enjoying a fine wine, beautiful artwork and inspiring homes for sale." "I think the Connoisseurs of Life Showroom has the potential to become the Times Square of downtown Kirkland," says Bruce Wynn, Executive Director of The Chamber of Commerce for Kirkland.  "With its central location, high visibility and digital displays it's not only one of Kirkland's newest lifestyle attractions but will likely become one of the most popular." "Maison DeLille extends our brand well beyond our Woodinville-based DeLille Chateau and Carriage House tasting room," saidGreg Lill, President of DeLille Cellars. "Realogics Sotheby's International Realty is a marketing maverick with a window to the world and a lakeside location, which is highly attractive to us.  By combining our resources and databases we're destined to draw both individual consumers and special events business to downtown Kirkland." "Realogics Sotheby's International Realty has raised the bar again in conceiving the Connoisseurs of Life Showroom," said Fran Santangelo, Senior Vice President for Global Operations of Sotheby's International Realty Affiliates, LLC.  "This fine company is well positioned to grow their enterprise with new brokers, especially considering their unique relationships with our other affiliates in Pacific Rim countries.  The Kirkland branch office is an exciting addition to our growing footprint in Washington State." "We extend a warm welcome to Realogics Sotheby's International Realty," says Amy Walen, Mayor of The City of Kirkland. "The vision statement for Kirkland is to be 'an attractive, vibrant and inviting place to live work and visit' and as I tour the Connoisseurs of Life Showroom I am experiencing this very doctrine come to life." "Ryan Smith and his team are an incredible talent and LightArt is yet another attraction on display in the heart of downtown Kirkland," says Ellen Miller-Wolfe, Economic Development Manager with the City of Kirkland.  "The Connoisseurs of Life Showroom enjoys perhaps the most visible pedestrian retail storefront in Kirkland and to have it be filled with artisan crafts and provide cultural interest is music to my ears.  I believe this dynamic enterprise will be very successful." "Realogics Sotheby's International Realty and DeLille Cellars are a perfect pairing – it's a very savvy retail concept," says Maria Royer, Principal of Real Retail – a Seattle-based retail broker that specializes in lifestyle brands.  "They will benefit from a prime downtown Kirkland location attracting a likeminded consumer drawn to the beautiful homes, compelling art and fine wines.  The showroom is like a lifestyle magazine coming to life while providing a living room of sorts for the community.  And given its adjacency to the Kirkland Marina, I think Maison DeLille will also become a popular lifestyle destination for boaters on Lake Washington."