Food and drink. Fun and function.

It’s a Shelter speciality: Designs that serve passionate entrepreneurs and their people.

We design taprooms, restaurants, bars, and hotels that entice visitors with vibrant, welcoming environments while accommodating the behind-the-scenes needs of business owners and their employees. Our hospitality projects live at the intersection of our experience in commercial and residential work where we combine efficiency and comfort. Explore three essential tips to create a comfortable, functional space for your customers and employees.

1. Build your brand identity into the space

Your branding should manifest itself in the design of your physical space. We frequently partner with local branding and digital design studio Malley Design to integrate commercial clients’ existing branding into their space, or to help them create it from scratch (as in the case of The Hangar at the Minnesota State Fair).

Check out a few more of our projects where brand identity was an key influence in the design:

• The Hangar
• Bent Paddle Brewing
• Hot Indian Foods
• Visit Eau Claire Experience Center
• Creed Interactive
• REM5

2. We tailor the design to the character of the building/neighborhood

In addition to brand integration, we often tailor our designs to reflect and highlight the distinct character and/or history of the building being used. This is especially applicable to many of our projects located in post-industrial neighborhoods or repurposed warehouse buildings.

Our work on Bent Paddle Brewing is a prime example of the effectiveness of harnessing a business’s brand personality and a building’s historical character to create a one of a kind space and experience for customers.

When the owners of Bent Paddle went in search of a place to call home, they were drawn to the waters of Lake Superior and Duluth, MN. Our team was challenged to repurpose a rustic furniture warehouse into a bright, colorful watering hole for tourists and locals alike.

In partnership with Duluth based architects at Wagner Zaun, we matched original brick, worked around existing structural elements, and were creative about bringing in light and color. We created design solutions that melded the site and city’s industrial history with the brand’s playful Northwoods style all while working within licensed taproom requirements. Huge sheets of rusted steel create a bar and fireplace to reflect Duluth’s steel industry history. Benches and tables are custom inscribed with local waterways and hiking trails, and the taproom features a table with a map of the entire Boundary Waters Canoe Area.

Details reflective of the region’s outdoorsy character broken up with on-brand pops of color through local artwork and murals on the walls infuse the entire taproom and connect the space to its roots. Keeping Bent Paddle’s brand persona and the building’s historic qualities at the forefront of the design helps the space effortlessly communicate the brewery’s rustic yet dynamic vibe.

3. Involve a design team early

Designing a space that serves the needs of a business and its customers is no small undertaking. Having a design partner experienced in brand development and incorporation, site selection, space planning, permit guidance, and building code and lease compliance is important.

We love (and are no strangers to) working with local business owners to bring their mission and vision to life. We are currently collaborating with Bubble Line Brewing on what will eventually be Minnesota’s first Black, woman owned craft brewery.

Browse more of our taproom and brewery projects here. And our full commercial portfolio here.
Or let’s connect. Maybe even over a beer. We’re eager to chat with fellow business owners and entrepreneurs.