Located in the bustling Little Italy neighborhood, Couscous is a small mom and pop Mediterranean restaurant that was in turmoil due to the stiff competition in Little Italy, which needed a makeover.
The food was great and the owner took painstaking effort to ensure the freshness and quality of all the items on the menu.
However, multiple new restaurants had been opened in the area and the dated décor and layout of Couscous meant that it was often overlooked by customers. In addition, the interiors were not designed for efficient service and movement for the staff.
When we met the owner, we discussed what the brand should stand for and the kind of clientele he wanted to attract. He wanted the restaurant to appeal to a local customer who was looking for familiar and beloved food, with an updated look that the younger student generation would find appealing.
We provided full design-build service and worked with the owner of the existing Greystone building in which the restaurant was housed to get permits processed and construction documents approved.
We started by restoring the exteriors, replacing the old awnings and opening up the shopfront to create a brightly-lit interior. We chose contemporary, colorful décor to create a space that reflected the restaurant’s modern approach to traditional recipes.
We added a buffet area to optimise the potential of breakfast and lunch customers, thereby opening up a new revenue stream for the owner. We also revised the layout of the interiors so that the flow of staff could be more efficient, allowing for quicker service and a busy feel.
The restaurant began to see an increase in footfall soon after the opening, and the owner was delighted by his increased revenues and the popularity of the Couscous.
Year:
2001