Rosen's Bagels
The first brick-and-mortar location for a bagel brand that had already built a following through pop-ups and local retail. The goal was to translate the energy and personality of those temporary spaces into a permanent cafe while making thoughtful use of the existing restaurant infrastructure.
- Austin · Texas
- Hospitality
- 1,950 SF
- Completed 2021
- Builder: Joey Chioco
- Photography: Andrea Calo
The design looks to traditional East Coast bagel shops and cafes, particularly their use of tile as both an architectural finish and a form of signage. Here, tile helps define the space and communicate the identity of the brand, giving the cafe a familiar, established quality.
The space was a second-generation restaurant with an existing commercial kitchen. Rather than relocate it, we designed the cafe around it, allowing the existing conditions to shape the plan. This kept the construction focused on the spaces customers experience most directly and allowed resources to be used where they had the greatest impact.
Durable materials are paired with playful details and pattern throughout the cafe. The result is a space that feels established and familiar while still reflecting the energy and personality of the Rosen's brand.
Tile became one of the defining elements of the project, introducing pattern, color, and texture while providing a durable finish for a busy cafe. The Rosen's logo—a playful interpretation of a bagel as a rising sun—is incorporated into the wainscot along the hallway to the restrooms, creating a small moment of discovery within the space.
