by Ryan | Apr 18, 2018 | Design News
Eat Good, Drink Good, Live Good.
This is the motto at Wok & Mortar, the newest dining establishment in East Grand Rapids’ Gaslight Village. They feature fresh Asian dishes inspired by the street food of the markets in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Large South and East facing windows provide the space with plenty of natural light, bringing out the natural tones of the wood.
r.o.i. Design met VaChong and Bobbiesee Ku, owners of Wok & Mortar, when we helped with the design of their Asian Fusion restaurant in Frankfort, MI. When they decided that they wanted to open a new restaurant in Grand Rapids, they called for our help again.
A Transformation
The space was previously occupied by a Biggby Coffee Shop. We set out to transform the space into a modern Asian restaurant with an updated urban vibe. The previous space was not a restaurant with a full-service commercial kitchen. So, it was a bit of a challenge to make the changeover. We brought in the help of Pinnacle Construction to manage the remodel. Great Lakes West Foodservice Equipment Service provided the kitchen equipment. In addition to interior design, we took on the role of “owner’s advocate”. We oversaw the entire remodeling project, from leasing the space to upgrading utilities, and finally to promote the grand opening.
Communal Table and Order Counter. Customers can watch their meal being prepared in the large pass-through opening to the kitchen.
The interior features a wood wall made of reclaimed wood from shipping pallets. We also designed and had fabricated a custom communal table for the center of the space. It also features the reclaimed pallet wood, along with shelves to display the various sauces they offer for sale. The color palette consisted of mostly subdued grays. This allowed the wood features and graphic signage to stand out.
Reclaimed Pallet Wood Wall and Communal Table
Logo and Menu Design
r.o.i. Design was also asked by Wok & Mortar to design their logo. We went back and forth with a few concepts but finally landed on a design that incorporated the “W” and “M” from Wok & Mortar into flames over a wok. After that, we also designed the exterior sign, along with their menu boards and take-out menu.
Colorful menu boards allow customers to build their own dish. Orders can be placed using a self-serve kiosk or with the Wok & Mortar smartphone app.
The “W” and “M” from Wok & Mortar are incorporated into the flames in the wok for the restaurant’s logo.
by Ryan | Apr 18, 2018 | Design News
Hope College is committed to building community through retail. Their newly renovated bookstore is conveniently located next to the new Bultman Student Center on campus inside the DeWitt Cultural Center. When they learned that they were going to have a new neighbor three years ago, and their visibility to campus was going to be enhanced, they engaged r.o.i. Design to assist them in upgrading their appearance and “retail game”.
r.o.i. Design helped them rethink their store fixture plan and flow, designing a new cash out experience, and added color and texture to the space. The new Bultman Student Center construction took away 20% of the store floor space to allow for new connecting hallways between buildings, but through the wizardry of design, Hope College 2017-2018 returning customers thought the store got bigger!
The bookstore and their online store are the “go-to” spot for all things Hope College, from books to logowear. Learn more about the Hope College Bookstore website.
by Ryan | Apr 18, 2018 | Design News
Grand Rapids Grand Prix (GRGP) is the first West Michigan Indoor Adult Go-Kart Racing Facility! It is also r.o.i. Design’s first race track facility design!
Using the inspiration of cars, flags, and fun, we decked out the space with groovy colors and lights.
Victor Edgar, the owner of GRGP, loves fast cars and has raced a variety of wheeled vehicles. In 2017, he decided to develop an indoor racing experience. The former Courthouse (basketball facility) in Byron Center was the perfect spot; great space for racing, dining, and special events, easy on and off from US-131S, right next to the popular Tanger Outlet Mall.
From the Grand Rapids Grand Prix website:
“Beautifully re-designed building to accommodate state of the art indoor racing. Our facility provides a real racing experience with a track that even professionals find challenging. Our double-decker layout creates a weightless sensation coming over and down our table top hill. Reach speeds exceeding 40mph on our front straightaway and feel the G-forces while you sweep through our challenging corners.”
“Right now we are promoting our lunch hour race and eat specials Tuesday through Friday,” says Edgar. “But our team building and corporate events are gaining real popularity during the week as well. Our weekends are really busy and it is hopping in here, so we can’t accommodate every request for special events on weekends, but come on down and check us out.”
Hours of operation are on their website www.grandrapidsgrandprix.com along with special promotions. Café Monza has a great menu for race-side dining.
