Crate & Barrel founders Gordon and Carole Segal stand across the street from the company's Michigan Avenue flagship store on Tuesday, December 4, 2012. | Richard A. Chapman~Sun-Times
Crate & Barrel founders Carole and Gordon Segal visit the company's Michigan Avenue flagship store on Tuesday, December 4, 2012. | Richard A. Chapman~Sun-Times
The original Crate & Barrel store at 1514 N. Wells in Chicago.
The original Crate & Barrel store at 1514 N. Wells in Chicago.
Crate & Barrel founders Carole and Gordon Segal visit the company's Michigan Avenue flagship store on Tuesday, December 4, 2012. | Richard A. Chapman~Sun-Times
Riding the escalator with store manager Nanette Israel at left, Crate & Barrel founders Gordon and Carole Segal visit the company's Michigan Avenue flagship store on Tuesday, December 4, 2012. | Richard A. Chapman~Sun-Times
On display are three original items sold at Crate & Barrel, at left is a Roly Poly decanter from Sweden, behind it is a Green Saucy Apple vase, also from Sweden, and at right is a classic white Oxford teapot which was the first purchase made together by founders Gordon and Carole Segal at Marshal Field's. The Segal's talk about the company they founded in December 1962, and are photographed on Tuesday, November 27, 2012 in Chicago. | Richard A. Chapman~Sun-Times
Crate & Barrel founders Carole and Gordon Segal sit on a display couch during an interview while they visit the company's Michigan Avenue flagship store on Tuesday, December 4, 2012. | Richard A. Chapman~Sun-Times
Crate & Barrel founders Gordon and Carole Segal (behind him at left), along with store manager Nanette Israel (at right), visit the company's Michigan Avenue flagship store on Tuesday, December 4, 2012. | Richard A. Chapman~Sun-Times
Riding the escalator with store manager Nanette Israel at left, Crate & Barrel founders Gordon and Carole Segal visit the company's Michigan Avenue flagship store on Tuesday, December 4, 2012. | Richard A. Chapman~Sun-Times
Crate & Barrel founders Gordon and Carole Segal visit the company's Michigan Avenue flagship store on Tuesday, December 4, 2012. | Richard A. Chapman~Sun-Times
Chatting with store manager Nanette Israel (center), Crate & Barrel founders Carole and Gordon Segal visit the company's Michigan Avenue flagship store on Tuesday, December 4, 2012. | Richard A. Chapman~Sun-Times
Crate & Barrel founders Gordon and Carole Segal visit the company's Michigan Avenue flagship store on Tuesday, December 4, 2012. | Richard A. Chapman~Sun-Times
Crate & Barrel founders Gordon and Carole Segal stand outside the company's Michigan Avenue flagship store on Tuesday, December 4, 2012. | Richard A. Chapman~Sun-Times
Crate & Barrel founders Gordon and Carole Segal stand across the street from the company's Michigan Avenue flagship store on Tuesday, December 4, 2012. | Richard A. Chapman~Sun-Times
Crate & Barrel founders Gordon and Carole Segal talk about the company they founded in December 1962. They are photographed on Tuesday, November 27, 2012 in Chicago. | Richard A. Chapman~Sun-Times
The original Crate & Barrel store at 1514 N. Wells in Chicago.
Crate & Barrel founders Gordon and Carole Segal talk about the company they founded in December 1962. They are photographed on Tuesday, November 27, 2012 in Chicago. | Richard A. Chapman~Sun-Times
Crate & Barrel founders Gordon and Carole Segal talk about the company they founded in December 1962. They are photographed on Tuesday, November 27, 2012 in Chicago. | Richard A. Chapman~Sun-Times
Crate & Barrel founders Gordon and Carole Segal talk about the company they founded in December 1962. They are photographed on Tuesday, November 27, 2012 in Chicago. | Richard A. Chapman~Sun-Times
Crate & Barrel founders Gordon and Carole Segal talk about the company they founded in December 1962. They are photographed on Tuesday, November 27, 2012 in Chicago. | Richard A. Chapman~Sun-Times
Crate & Barrel founders Gordon and Carole Segal talk about the company they founded in December 1962. They are photographed on Tuesday, November 27, 2012 in Chicago. | Richard A. Chapman~Sun-Times
This original classic white Oxford teapot was the first purchase made together by Crate and Barrel's founders Gordon and Carole Segal at Marshal Field's.
Fifty years ago, Gordon and Carole Segal launched a startup that changed the way people shopped for home goods, and gave Chicago claim to another national retail trend setter. The co-founders of Crate & Barrel faced the same tough decisions that challenge startups today: how quickly to grow and when to cede control. They chose to grow slowly, build on a unique concept and create a great place to work. … Read More
