The Joy of Cooking

The spectacular new Riggs showroom is a culinarian’s dream

A beautiful kitchen with stainless steel appliances and darker veined stone surfaces and backsplash.

Above Image: A kitchen vignette debuting the new Grosvenor cabinetry collection by Christopher Peacock.

By Anh-Minh Le

The exclusive Northern California distributor of Cove, Sub-Zero, and Wolf, Riggs Distributing Inc. has launched a 4,500-square-foot flagship at the SFDC that is as industrial-chic as its collections, presenting luxury appliances and contemporary cabinetry amid polished concrete floors, a brick facade, post and beam timber, and 18-foot ceilings. “There’s a juxtaposition of old and new,” observes CEO Grant Riggs, whose father, Bob, founded the company in 1983. “It’s designed to be hospitable, warm and inviting.”

A sleek kitchen with dark wood and medium toned stone surfaces. In foreground is a modern set of pendulum task lights.

An urbane kitchen in the new Riggs showroom featuring Arclinea cabinetry.

The showroom will house approximately 100 cooking, cleaning, and refrigeration appliances, in a range of sizes and styles. A selection of “live” appliances will also be on hand for guests to test out, and consultants and chefs will be available for demonstrations and to answer questions. There are two primary kitchen vignettes in the showroom, one debuting Christopher Peacock’s new Grosvenor cabinetry collection, and another showcasing Arclinea. “The space is ideal for designers to host private events,” says Marissa Durazzo, director of marketing and communications. “It’s a beautiful culinary environment for working events for the trade community.”

Two images: First image is chef in whites smiling in his kitchen. the other shows a wall of different built-in warming and baking ovens.

Executive Chef and Showroom Manager Ivan Dubriwny in the Arclinea kitchen; a selection of Wolf appliances in the showroom.

Executive chef and showroom manager Ivan Dubriwny presides over the demo kitchen, featuring a backdrop of Precision cabinets, a 20-foot-long expanse of Cosentino’s Et Marquina—a striking black slab with white veining—and an island that can seat 12 guests. The setting will also be home to Supper Club, a program of dinner demonstrations where the cooking is done in front of the group, ranging from hors d’oeuvres and multicourse meals to wine pairings. “We talk about the whole range of products,” Dubriwny says. “From refrigeration and how it preserves the food, to the cooking side and how the burners work, to ovens like the convection steam oven that allows you to put moisture into the process.”

A kitchen featuring Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances

Although walk-ins are welcome during showroom hours (Monday–Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.), appointments are recommended to ensure time with product specialists. After each consultation, a specialist can provide a quote and refer the client to a nearby dealer. “It’s not about giving general advice,” says Dubriwny, “but focusing on the individual and what their needs are.”

The showroom opens on October 17, and celebrates with an open house on October 19 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. during Design San Francisco. Classes and the Supper Club program will launch soon after. “We wanted to create a fun environment with good energy,” says Riggs. “It’s an education center for the trade—architects, designers, and builders—and consumers alike.”

To learn more, visit Riggs Distributing Inc.

The Joy of Cooking

By Anh-Minh Le

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