Red Cow North Loop - Studio M Architects

Red Cow Restaurant Designs

Overview:

Studio M Architects has had a longstanding collaboration with Red Cow, a prominent restaurant brand known for its upscale burger and wine bars. With a significant presence in Minneapolis and beyond, Red Cow emphasizes quality, sustainability, and a strong brand identity. Over the years, Studio M Architects has developed multiple Red Cow locations, typically working on one new store each year. Each project involves creating a new restaurant that adheres to the established brand standards while incorporating lessons learned from previous locations.

Project Goals:

Brand Consistency: Ensure that each new location reflects Red Cow’s strong brand identity by incorporating signature design elements across all restaurants.
Sustainability: Utilize reclaimed, reused, or recycled materials to align with the client’s commitment to sustainability.
Functional Layout: Efficiently coordinate and organize the layout within existing buildings to optimize customer flow and operational efficiency, including access to trash and integration with building infrastructure.
Customer Experience: Create inviting spaces featuring large bars, spacious kitchens, private dining areas, custom booths, and expansive patios with pergola systems.

Aesthetic Appeal: Use high-quality materials like leather and interior wood, and incorporate unique branding elements such as custom cow print walls and sculptural features to enhance the dining atmosphere.

Design and Implementation:

Layout and Spatial Planning:
- Size and Scale: Each Red Cow location ranges from 4,500 to 6,500 square feet, providing ample space for various dining experiences.
- Dining Areas: Designed large bars and kitchens to accommodate high customer volumes and enhance service efficiency.
- Private Dining: Included private dining rooms to cater to groups seeking a more intimate setting.
- Seating Options: Installed custom booths, tables, and chairs to offer a variety of seating arrangements.
- Outdoor Spaces: Developed large patios typically featuring pergola systems, expanding the dining area and providing outdoor options for guests.
Material Selection and Sustainability:
- Reclaimed and Recycled Materials: Sourced materials that are reclaimed, reused, or recycled to meet the client’s sustainability goals and add unique character to each location.
- Quality Finishes: Employed extensive use of leather and interior wood to create a warm and upscale ambiance.
Branding and Thematic Elements:
- Cow Print Features: Incorporated custom cow print walls and cow print on the bar die walls to reinforce the brand identity.
- Custom Screens: Designed patio areas with custom screens featuring the Red Cow logo and branding elements.

Sculptural Elements: Included sculptural diagrams or elements of cows grazing on planters, tying into the brand’s tagline “Follow the Herd.”

Challenges:

Working Within Existing Buildings:
- Spatial Constraints: Adapted designs to fit within the constraints of existing structures, requiring creative solutions for layout efficiency.
- Infrastructure Coordination: Managed the integration of new designs with existing building structures and infrastructure, including considerations for operational aspects like trash access.
Maintaining Brand Standards:

Consistency and Uniqueness: Ensured that while each location adheres to brand standards, they also possess unique qualities, making no two locations exactly alike but all unmistakably Red Cow.

Outcome:

Through a strong and ongoing partnership with Red Cow, Studio M Architects has successfully developed multiple restaurant locations that embody the brand’s identity and values. Each restaurant offers a consistent yet unique dining experience, featuring signature design elements that customers associate with Red Cow. The thoughtful use of sustainable materials and distinctive branding features like cow print walls and sculptural elements enhance the ambiance and reinforce brand recognition. The efficient layouts and high-quality finishes contribute to operational success and customer satisfaction. The collaboration continues to thrive, with new locations being developed regularly, reflecting the success of the designs in expanding Red Cow’s presence in the dining scene.