Nicole Jensen

Expo Design Center

EXPO Design Center was a subsidiary of Home Depot Inc, established in 1991. The first store opened in San Diego, California, followed by 53 more locations across the U.S. over the next 17 years. EXPO was marketed toward upmarket homeowners, builders, designers, and architects. Where Home Depot's mantra was "do it yourself," EXPO offered the complete experience of "Let us do it for you!" In addition to a traditional merchandise sales floor, each location housed 10 different showrooms - including Kitchens, Bath, Appliances, Lighting, Flooring, Window Treatments, and Outdoor. Each store also featured a Design Services department, which would pair customers with on-staff professional designers to guide their in-home projects. Following a gradual reduction of stores and the housing market decline of 2008, parent company Home Depot closed the remaining 34 EXPO Design Centers in the Spring of 2009.