Restoration Hardware opening party draws a crowd

Who knew home furnishings and bath fixtures could be such a big draw? The new Restoration Hardware store on Berkeley Street officially opened Wednesday night, and the place was overrun with VIPs who, we’re betting, already have all the luxury bed linens and ceiling fans they need. Perhaps the attraction wasn’t the store but its location — Restoration Hardware (or RH, as it’s now branded) has moved into the 40,000-square-foot landmark building formerly occupied by Louis Boston. Wednesday’s party, planned and designed by Bryan Rafanelli, was chaired by Mayor Tom Menino himself and hosted by muckety-mucks too numerous to mention. Oh, all right, here’s a few: Wyc and Corinne Grousbeck, Bill and Alli Achtmeyer, Alan and Be Bilzerian, Malcolm Rogers, Josh Kraft, Cam and Paulina Neely, Bruin Andrew Ference, Joseph Abboud, and Stephen and Roberta Weiner, Charles Hotel owner Dick Friedman, restaurateur Ed Kane, City Councilor Mike Ross, and Boston Harbor Association president Vivien Li. “The Town” actor Jeremy Renner was there, and we’re told music producer Tommy Mottola was also there. The renovated space includes a 24-foot illuminated steel Eiffel Tower replica, fake olive trees, and an iridescent gold-coffered ceiling. We’re not sure what the capacity of the store is, but it was certainly exceeded Wednesday (we’re told the owners invited 6,000 people). At 7:30 p.m., people were still waiting to get in. The huge crowd made it all but impossible to move about. One wag compared the scene to Black Friday — but in March. Rather than shoulder their way through the swarm, some people just left.