Buzzing with caffeine and creativity, Coffee For Sasquatch's second outpost is bringing a jolt of energy to the Nolita-Little Italy border. The masterminds at Dan Brunn Architecture (DBA) have conjured up a design that's as clever as it is captivating.
It was a eureka moment when DBA discovered that the letters in 'Sasquatch' slotted seamlessly into the existing facade's light boxes. And from there, the design concept took shape - a love letter to old-school New York.
The dramatic, black ironwork of the window frames and storefront stands out against the vibrant Asian eateries nearby, conjuring up memories of a bygone NYC era. At the entry, a Sasquatch peeks out to invite customers through custom wallpaper by Flavor Paper and artist James Jean. Jean re-interprets the idea of the creature’s forest with oversized vines, leaves, and flowers, where customers shrunk to become a small part of the Sasquatch world.
The custom terrazzo counter's gentle curves and the gold angled ceiling's subtle nod to the LA location guide you from the entry to the seating area. The deep green terrazzo, flecked with gold and blue aggregates, echoes the mosaic tiles on the floor and ceiling, creating a sense of cohesion. Meanwhile, the inverted-pitch ceiling's sharp lines add a sense of height and length to the compact 600-square-foot space, drawing the eye upward.
A multi-functional merchandise display serves as a subtle separator between the entry and seating areas, cleverly disguising its various roles as guardrail, handrail, display case and waste bin location.
The hexagonal mesh pattern pays homage to the round mosaic tiles on the floor, allowing visibility through to the artwork on the other side, while glass shelves showcase the coffee shop's smaller items and the frame doubles as a hanger for larger merchandise.
As you settle in for a cup, the green terrazzo counter yields to a warm walnut counter and custom bench, transporting you to the heart of the forest. But look closely, and you'll spot the 10-foot-tall Sasquatch mascot hiding behind the bench, her piercing gaze watching over the space from between the lush hanging plants. Crafted from half-inch thick custom-cut acrylic and finished in the same gold as the ceiling, she's the guardian of this urban oasis.