23 SEPTEMBER 2026 — DESIGN
Trolley Square: Episode 5
Two years, countless decisions, and more than a few pivots later—we’re finally opening the doors.
In the final episode of our Trolley Square series, Shea takes us through the finished McGee & Co. flagship store for the first time. What began as a historic shell with original brick and arched windows is now a layered retail space designed to feel less like a store and more like walking through a Studio McGee home.
That feeling guided the design from the beginning. Shea created a vestibule to give the entrance a sense of warmth before opening into the dramatic vaulted space beyond. Interior windows capture light and offer glimpses into the next room, while reclaimed brick, marble fireplace surrounds, detailed trim work, vintage pieces, and custom millwork bring the character and dimension more often associated with a home than a traditional retail environment.
The store unfolds the same way. Living, dining, bedroom, bath, garden, and kid spaces are complete rooms where furniture, lighting, art, textiles, and decor can be experienced together. Throughout the tour, Shea shares the design thinking behind them—from using round furniture to create better flow to mixing old and new for a more collected feel.
That approach extends to the kitchen, which was designed to be fully functional rather than simply a display. At its center is a Lacanche range—a piece Shea has long loved for the way it blends beautiful design and everyday function. The working kitchen gives her a place to cook, gather, and host events, bringing the experience of a real home into the store and creating another way for the community to experience the space.
There are also details that have been years in the making. A fireplace Shea originally sourced for another project has been waiting in a warehouse for the day she could give it a home in a retail store. Historic arched windows that first drew her to the Trolley Square space have become one of its defining features. Even the smallest elements, from the custom rope trim to the shopping bags, were considered as part of the experience.
But one of the most meaningful moments comes at the back of the store. Shea’s first paid design project was styling a set of bookshelves. Now she stands in front of wall-to-wall shelving filled with products she and the McGee & Co. team have spent years designing. It’s a full-circle moment—and a reminder of just how far the journey has come.
Shea and Syd waited until the time felt right to open their first store. As Shea reflects in the episode, waiting can be hard, but it can also make the end result sweeter. After years of imagining what it would feel like to experience McGee & Co. beyond a screen, Trolley Square is finally that place: a physical expression of the design philosophy, pieces, and feeling of home at the heart of the brand.
Watch Episode 5 now on YouTube—and come experience our first McGee & Co. flagship store at Trolley Square in Salt Lake City.
