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Cotton Street Diner
Cotton Street Diner was slated to take over an existing restaurant space. The building originally did not have the appearance of a classic diner. Shook Kelley created a theme to give the new restaurant a complex identity.
Conceptualized as an existing 1920’s service station which becomes a small diner with counter service in the 1930’s, it is continually added onto in each decade until the 1960’s, and each dining experience within the restaurant depicts an addition to the original 1920’s station. Spaces depicting different periods within the restaurant included: a 30’s diner counter, a raised dining platform from the 40’s along the perimeter, a private dining room from the 50’s and an early 60’s coffee shop.
Additional highlights of the space included changing the exterior image by relocating the main entry and creating an enticing coffee shop feel and providing a retail image by introducing wide expanses of windows. Taking advantage of the height of the new structure, vertical wedge elements were carried into the interior with 50’s style cladding.
A lively, engaging and nostalgic place…
The use of period murals, signage and graphics helped convey the varying time frames of the diner. All of the elements were new but designed to appear aged. Period elements in the finishes included wood venetian blinds, black and white photos of local and national figures and hub caps dating from the 1930’s which are used as serving trays.
The result was a lively, engaging and nostalgic place that also served as a key iconic contribution towards the emergence of the South End District in Charlotte.
Conceptualized as an existing 1920’s service station which becomes a small diner with counter service in the 1930’s, it is continually added onto in each decade until the 1960’s, and each dining experience within the restaurant depicts an addition to the original 1920’s station. Spaces depicting different periods within the restaurant included: a 30’s diner counter, a raised dining platform from the 40’s along the perimeter, a private dining room from the 50’s and an early 60’s coffee shop.
Additional highlights of the space included changing the exterior image by relocating the main entry and creating an enticing coffee shop feel and providing a retail image by introducing wide expanses of windows. Taking advantage of the height of the new structure, vertical wedge elements were carried into the interior with 50’s style cladding.
A lively, engaging and nostalgic place…
The use of period murals, signage and graphics helped convey the varying time frames of the diner. All of the elements were new but designed to appear aged. Period elements in the finishes included wood venetian blinds, black and white photos of local and national figures and hub caps dating from the 1930’s which are used as serving trays.
The result was a lively, engaging and nostalgic place that also served as a key iconic contribution towards the emergence of the South End District in Charlotte.