Making News

Urban Barn - Home on Howe

For Immediate Release


February 2, 2010


URBAN BARN GETS RIGHT AT HOME ON HOWE STREET

Longtime employee packs his bags and moves into downtown Vancouver store to live the Canadian furniture retailer’s mantra for 17 unique days this February


(Vancouver, BC) – Giving a whole new meaning to feeling “right at home,” Vancouver-based Canadian furniture retailer, Urban Barn, and longtime company employee, Robbie Romu, are teaming up this February to bring the company’s mantra to life in Olympic proportions.


Dubbed “Right at Home on Howe”, Urban Barn’s downtown Vancouver location (818 Howe Street) will be transformed into an open-concept and fully functional home that Robbie will move into and live in, 24-hours a day, for 17 consecutive days (February 12 through February 28, 2010). Robbie’s 3,600 square-foot temporary home will be furnished exclusively with contemporary furniture and unique home accessories from Urban Barn, including Tribeca and McQueen sofas and pieces from the Marquesas bedroom collection. The floor plan is comprised of a front foyer, living room, gaming space with video games, media room with big-screen TVs (5 in total throughout the home), casual entertaining area, dining area, computer space (with operating computers) and a spare bedroom – all for the public to experience and enjoy, as well as a private bedroom for Robbie. The Bullfrog-powered store will remain fully staffed and open for business during extended store hours.


Additionally, the home will be outfitted with video cameras to capture Robbie’s every move and he’ll have a hand-held camera for video blogging, all of which will be uploaded to a special YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/HomeOnHowe) on a regular basis. A Facebook group (www.facebook.com/pages/HomeOnHowe) has been established so the public may become fans of the initiative, as well as a Twitter id (www.twitter.com/HomeOnHowe) for people to follow Robbie and remain up-to-date on his tweets.


An Invitation to Hang Out with Robbie

The public is invited to feel right at home by stopping by 818 Howe Street during extended store hours to hang out with Robbie, watch TV with friends, put their feet up and relax, play video games, check their e-mail and update their Facebook status, enjoy refreshments as well as other special events scheduled for the 16-day period.


“We are opening our doors with the intention that everyone will come into the store, enjoy the space and stay a while,” says Urban Barn President, Rick Bohonis, who believes the initiative is a unique way to invite the public to experience the brand in a different way. “It’s all about feeling right at home – that’s what Urban Barn has always been about in each of its 36 locations, and it’s a feeling that we look forward to sharing in a really exciting way on Howe Street in February.”


A Solid Foundation

In conjunction with the initiative, Urban Barn is inviting Canadians to join them in supporting the Canadian Paralympic Foundation (CPF), a registered Canadian charity dedicated to raising funds to support the development of sport for the benefit of Canadians with physical disabilities.


The $20,010 goal will be achieved through a corporate donation coupled with online public donations in any amount (to donate or for further details, visit www.homeonhowe.com). As a token of appreciation for each donation made, all donors who reference “Urban Barn” in the “Message” section of the online donation form will have a opportunity to win a room (in the form of an Urban Barn gift card) from Robbie’s home on Howe Street.


Right at Home on Howe Street Special Events Schedule

(Open to the public unless otherwise noted)


Friday, February 12, 2010
9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Robbie’s Urban Barn Scented Candle Torch Relay from Urban Barn’s South Granville location (2354 Granville Street) to 818 Howe Street
10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Right at Home on Howe Street Celebrations and viewing of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games Opening Ceremony

Saturday, February 13, 2010
9:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Wii Winter Games Daily Challenge begins
Viewing of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games

Sunday, February 14, 2010
11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Wii Winter Games Daily Challenge begins
Viewing of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Kid’s Day – Come hang out with Robbie at Howe Street for some Wii games, a magician, and goodie bags.

Monday, February 15, 2010
9:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Wii Winter Games Daily Challenge begins
Viewing of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games
7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.

Open Mic Music Night

A night of local musical talent hosted by Cory McLean. (Limited space available, visit www.homeonhowe.com for details on how to sign-up.)

Tuesday, February 16, 2010
9:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Wii Winter Games Daily Challenge begins
Viewing of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games
3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Live and Interactive: Vancouver-based artist, Brent Ray Fraser, paints live in the Howe Street store window with a live auction following and all proceeds donated to Canadian Paralympic Foundation.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010
9:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. Wii Winter Games Daily Challenge begins
Viewing of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games
7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Retro Game Night

Thursday, February 18, 2010
9:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Wii Winter Games Daily Challenge begins
Viewing of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games

Friday, February 19, 2010
9:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Wii Winter Games Daily Challenge begins
Viewing of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games
7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. Cool Runnings Caribbean Night – Featuring tasty tapas and beverages from The Reef. Live music Ray Disciples and Cool Runnings playing on the big screen. (Limited space available; visit www.homeonhowe.com for details on how to sign up to attend.) 

Saturday, February 20, 2010
9:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Wii Winter Games Daily Challenge begins
Viewing of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games
8:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m.

Urban Barn Lounge Night

Featuring DJ Case spinning lounge and house. (Limited spacing; visit www.homeonhowe.com for details on how to sign up to attend.)

Sunday, February 21, 2010
11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Wii Winter Games Daily Challenge begins
Viewing of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games
2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Table Hockey Tournament
4:40 p.m. – 7:40 p.m. Canada vs. USA Men’s Hockey Game

Monday, February 22, 2010
9:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Wii Winter Games Daily Challenge begins
Viewing of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games
8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

Movie Night


Tuesday, February 23, 2010
9:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Wii Winter Games Daily Challenge begins
Viewing of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games

Wednesday, February 24, 2010
9:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Wii Winter Games Daily Challenge begins
Viewing of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

“Are You Smarter than Robbie?” Game Show


Thursday, February 25, 2010
9:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Wii Winter Games Daily Challenge begins
Viewing of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games
7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Rock Band Challenge Night


Friday, February 26, 2010
9:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Wii Winter Games Daily Challenge begins
Viewing of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games
8:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

UComedy Night – Christopher Molineux hosts a night of laughs with some of Vancouver’s top comedy acts. (Limited space available; visit www.homeonhowe.com for details on how to attend.)


Saturday, February 27, 2010
9:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Wii Winter Games Daily Challenge begins
Viewing of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games
8:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m.

Closed Event


Sunday, February 28, 2010
11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Wii Winter Games Daily Challenge begins
Viewing of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games
12:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Closing Party (Men’s Hockey Gold Medal Game and Closing Ceremonies)


Visit Robbie at an Urban Barn Near You

In an effort to share the excitement and engage customers and staff alike in select Urban Barn locations, monitors will live stream Howe Street in the following Urban Barn locations across Canada:


Urban Barn Park Royal 825 Main Street West  Vancouver, BC
Urban Barn Langley 20202 66th Avenue  Langley, BC
Urban Barn Victoria 520 Herald Street  Victoria, BC
Urban Barn Kamloops 1210 Summit Drive Kamloops, BC
Urban Barn South Common 99th Street North West Edmonton, AB
Urban Barn Saskatoon 3142 Clarence Avenue South Saskatoon, SK
Urban Barn Heritage 64 Heritage Gate South East Calgary, AB
Urban Barn Kenaston 1585 Kenaston Boulevard  Winnipeg, MB
Urban Barn Argentia 3095 Argentia Road Mississauga, ON
Urban Barn Queen Street 610 Queen Street West Toronto, ON

About Urban Barn

Canadian retailer, Urban Barn, offers well-appointed and contemporary furniture for the living room, dining room and bedroom, as well as on-trend accessories for the home. With 36 retail locations across the country’s five most westerly provinces, the Vancouver, BC-based company first opened its doors in 1990 and continues to pride itself on offering a successful triumvirate of value, quality and great design. For further information, visit urbanbarn.com



For more information on “Right at Home on Howe”, Urban Barn or to request an interview with Rick Bohonis or Robbie Romu, please contact:


elevator communications inc.:

416.363.6444


Jennifer Thompson x225

jennifer@elevatorinc.com

Mobile: 416.270.3784


Lori Cooper x221

lori@elevatorinc.com

Mobile: 416.276.1681