Hawaiian homeowners planning an “extreme makeover” for their residences often find everything they need at the Gentry Pacific Design Center in O`ahu, a headquarters for home construction, renovation, and home furnishings. The complex’s tenants have chalked up many beautiful home makeovers to their credit -- yet one of the Center’s greatest makeovers is that of its own site.
Originally built as a factory in 1934 by the American Can Co., the facility once hummed with activity as it produced cans used by the Dole, Del Monte and Coca Cola companies. As the pineapple industry began to leave the Islands, the cannery fell into disuse.
By 1985, the five-acre site and expansive building was abandoned. In stepped Tom Gentry, a real estate developer with a vision for the future. Gentry purchased the property and spent one year and $3 million renovating the structure. Gentry’s goal was to create a mixed-use building “that was visually pleasing, while retaining the historic charm of the original,” says Joe Fadrowsky, Gentry Pacific vice president. The final renovation occurred after Gentry visited the Pacific Design Center in Los Angeles and decided that Honolulu need a similar home and design resource, and the Gentry Pacific Design Center was born.
The building received a new paint job, restoration to the windows—including the original skylights, which allowed the bright Hawaiian sunlight to illuminate the building’s 9,000 square foot first floor and 8,500 square foot second floor. Also restored was the original wood block flooring, which has remained largely unaltered. Storefronts were built up and air conditioning was added. “We even restored the original elevator—the second oldest working elevator in the state,” notes Shelley Morisaki, principal broker and property manager for Gentry Properties.
Since its makeover, the GPDC has become a premier source for home interior furnishings and renovations. Island homeowners from all over O`ahu visit the center to find fresh ideas from designers such as John Cook Kitchens, Kitchen Concepts Plus, Details International, and others. They also discover fine décor items and fabrics in stores by Baik Design, Furniture Plus, Interior Accents, John Mango, Pacific Orient Traders, and Indich Collection. Fine stone provider Bella Pietra recently opened a showroom in the GPDC offering high-end but reasonably-priced stone for homeowners interested in renovating kitchens, bathrooms, or pool areas
“We created a one-stop shopping experience,” says Morisaki. “All of one’s design needs can be meet at the Gentry Pacific Design Center, from kitchen renovation, complete home remodeling by Archipelago or Smith Bros. Construction, to new lighting at Aurora Illumination, or a luxury, hand-woven rugs from Indich Collection. It can all be found here under one roof. This is the only resource of its kind on O`hau, and we are proud of the building’s history and excited about its future.”
Vendor Listing
Archipelago
Aurora Illumination
Baik Design
Bath & Suite Shoppe
Bella Pietra
Cabinets 4 You
Carolyn Pace Designs
Details International
Furniture Plus
Indich Collection
Interior Accents
Johnny Mango
John Cook Kitchens
Kitchen Concepts Plus
Pacific Orient Traders
Smith Bros Construction
Snaidero Kitchen & Design
Trade Interiors
West Pacific Design, Inc.
