By Lindsey Rupp, Bloomberg News West Elm, the housewares brand owned by Williams-Sonoma Inc., is the latest retailer to look outside the mall for growth. The retail chain plans to open a line of West Elm hotels, with five locations beginning to open in late 2018. The company is working with hospitality-management firm DDK on the project, according to a statement Monday. West Elm joins a growing faction of retailers seeking to hedge their bets.