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Commercial, Restaurant, Philadelphia

Cafe Lift Restaurant Fit-Out

The adaptive reuse of a historic building into a modern cafe fit-out in Philadelphia.

Project Video
Cafe-Lift-Philadelphia-Sign

PROJECT SUMMARY

The new Café Lift on Spring Garden Street features plastered brick walls, large industrial windows, and modern décor. The design blends historic charm with contemporary aesthetics, creating a unique and welcoming atmosphere.

CATEGORIES

Commercial, Restaurant, Renovation, Adaptive Reuse, Philadelphia

CLIENT

13th Street Kitchens

architect

Mass Architecture Studio

INTERIOR DESIGNER

Riverwards General

Completion

2023

Meet the Owners

Tasty Bites.
New Heights.

In 2003, Michael and Jeniphur Pasquarello launched Café Lift in a beautifully restored, historic factory on 13th Street in Philadelphia's Callowhill neighborhood. After two decades of success, they decided it was time to expand to a new, larger location in a charming corner building on Spring Garden Street.

13th St Kitchen owners
"Your meticulous execution and attention to detail during the construction of our new location have been outstanding. The project was completed on time and exceeded our expectations. We're grateful for your unwavering support and expertise. Thank you!"
Michael Pasquarello
Owner
Restaurant Fit-Out

Project Challenges

"Integrating modern amenities while preserving the historic charm of the interior was our top challenge."

- Anthony Giacobbe
Space Optimization

Efficiently utilizing the three floors to accommodate a kitchen, back of house, coffee bar, and seating areas while ensuring smooth workflow and customer comfort.

Customer Experience Enhancement

Constructing the space to enhance the customer experience, including creating a welcoming atmosphere, optimizing seating arrangements, and ensuring accessibility.

Acoustic Design

Addressing the acoustics to ensure a pleasant dining experience, particularly in a multi-floor setting where noise can travel and affect different areas.

Logistics Management

Coordinating the construction schedule to minimize disruption to the existing business operations and ensuring timely completion of each phase.

Commercial Restaurant Build

Project Solutions

Efficient Space Planning

Constructed a layout that maximized the use of all three floors, ensuring a smooth flow between the kitchen, coffee bar, and seating areas.

Modern-Historic Blend

Successfully integrated modern amenities and design elements while preserving the building's historic features, maintaining its unique character.

Custom Wall Plaster

Applied custom wall plaster throughout the dining spaces, adding a unique and elegant touch that enhances the restaurant's ambiance.

Bespoke Finish Fabrication

Crafted all seating and built-ins, ensuring custom designs that perfectly fit the space and meet the restaurant's aesthetic and functional needs.

Commercial Construction Services

Services Performed

PR

Pre-Construction

PM

Project Management

cafelift-l-07
Commercial Restaurant and Kitchen Fit-Out

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