Walking into Williams-Sonoma today is worlds away from experience of walking into its first store, which opened in 1956 and sold just a small variety of cookware imported from France. Over the years the brand name has grown by leaps and bounds. Now it carries a wealth of supplies for cooks or the serious foodie. You can do more than just shop at Williams-Sonoma; you can enjoy technique and cooking classes, product demonstrations and book-signing events. You can also shop via catalog or online. You can find this Williams-Sonoma store in the corridor between JCPenney and Nordstrom in the Westfield Annapolis Mall.