Raw Girls

May 2021
800 SF

Challenge: Design an 800 SF grab-and-go location for Raw Girls – a local chef couple known for their organic juices and clean, vegetarian food options. Previously operating via food trucks and subscription services, their first brick and mortar location would become their new center of operations and retail. Since the design and completion of this project was during the COVID pandemic, creating an accessible and social-distancing-friendly floor plan was of paramount importance to the business’ success.

The to-go window was the leading factor in the floor plan and directed the rest of the space planning. Having the option to serve customers as they waited outdoors provided Raw Girls the ability to stay open throughout the pandemic. The narrow, shot-gun style bay of space required the floor plan to be extremely efficient. By using wall mounted, half-moon shape tables, we were able to provided some casual seating without taking up too much space and crowding the area. Three grab-and-go coolers placed on an angle allow customers to see the food and drink offerings from any location in the store.

Aesthetically, the design needed to align with Raw Girls mission of providing organic, dairy free, gluten free, and refined sugar free foods and drinks to the Memphis community and beyond. This was accomplished through the use of raw, real materials and a light and fresh color palette. A natural marble countertop with a waterfall edge and maple wood-accented pendant lights provides a perfect backdrop to the bright colors of Raw Girls’ fresh juices. The cheery custom wall mural, created by artist Erik Barthels, ties into the eye-catching, saturated colors of the Raw Girls’ branding, foods and juices.