09/19/08

Avoid---buy online instead

by Bill11215

Not only is this store completely overpriced, the owner, the impish Rico, is a complete weasel. His attitude had me so flabergasted that I just walked out after speaking with him about ordering some chairs. To think such a wee person can have such a huge ego....a shame.

Luckily the internet has much better (and cheaper) options for most of Rico's products, so I advise anyone who doesn't want a retail headache to BUY ONLINE!!!

• Pros: Location
• Cons: Small beady eyes; small hands; bad breath

04/28/08

Great collection, good service

by Alisonrona

We ordered an ultra suede asymmetrical sofa there that we like very much.

The staff was helpful, very quick and we ordered it the same day we discovered the sofa in their showroom.

It was American-made, but inspired by a European sensibility and design, as many things are in their store.

The sofa was delivered exactly on the date promised and in perfect condition. It is well-built and well-designed: sturdy, yet elegant.

I would definitely go there to look for American-made knock-offs of European designs -- less expensive than having to pay Euro-strong prices.

08/28/07

Slimy

by edverse

RICO has beautiful stuff. My wife and I decided to buy our main room sofa there instead of one of the big name stores because it was a great design and we wanted to support local business. Unfortunately, we came to regret that decision painfully.

RICO promised delivery in 6-8 weeks. We got the sofa in the 12th week. Worse, it was damaged. There was a smudged, quarter-size hole on back of the sofa through which you could see the wood of the sofa frame. Unbelievably, RICO has been extremely difficult about getting us a replacement couch, alternating from lying, to belligerence, to completely ignoring us. At the end of the day, their "take it or leave it" offer was to pick up the couch, THEN repair it, then redeliver the couch in their infamous "6-8 weeks". The matter is still unresolved more than four months after we put down a 50% deposit. They also charged our card for the full amount of the purchase over our protest. In sum, they do business like scheisters.

So admire the collection, but cross your fingers you don't get a defective product.

• Pros: Nice collection
• Cons: Do business like scheisters

11/20/06

Raising the presentation of home furnishings to high art.

by Contributor

The Scene
Rico's namesake, store owner Rico Espinet, had a bright idea. The former lighting consultant for shops like Barneys and Ralph Lauren put his own lighting designs into a meticulously arranged showroom that also features furniture, fine art and glassware--and a design studio. The idea took off, and the showroom moved down the Atlantic Avenue block to a bigger space, with more room for furniture.

The Goods
Rico's offerings are carefully selected: delicate glassware by Global Views and minimalist furniture by Mitchell Gold, Dellarobbia and Maria Yee. All items for the discerning decorator's living room, home office and bedroom are thoughtfully lit by Rico's lighting designs. A slew of industrial artifacts, salvaged from an upstate foundry by Rico himself, sit in welcome contrast to all the modernist furniture.