To appeal to the multicultural population surrounding Carnival’s Dallas supermarket, designers from api(+) sought to remake the store’s shopping experience into one that was fun, promoted freshness and abundance and was family-focused – all trademarks of the grocery experience in Hispanic cultures. The store won first place in the Supermarket category of the ISP/VM+SD International Store Design Competition.
Culturally relevant colors, patterns, lighting, sound and scents were infused into the store to create an engaging environment for the entire family. Store signage was also composed primarily in Spanish, with English translations as secondary.
In La Panaderia (bakery), fresh bread aromas are vented into the store from the back bakery, seen through large showcase windows. In La Fruteria (fruit juice bar), designers recreated a plaza fountain setting where shoppers can find fresh juices, salads, sandwiches and desserts. In the La Concina (kitchen) area, nearby picnic tables offer customers a place to enjoy a quick snack or meal from the prepared foods area.
Drop ceilings and canopies delineate the common areas, while themed elements and storefronts, such as a thatched hut roof over the Pescaderia (fresh seafood department) and pineapple and palm fixtures in La Fruiteria, identify each of the food departments.
Client: Minyards Food Stores Inc., Coppell, Texas
Design: api(+), Tampa, Fla. – Juan Romero, president and ceo, cultural segmentation-branding; Tom Henken, vp and director of design; John Scheffel, environmental graphics; Ryan Martin, graphics, conceptualization; Heidi Garcia, architecture; Rena Cao, graphics; Barbara Soto, public relations, signage translation
Architect: Johnson Architects Inc., Dallas
General Contractor: W.B. Kibler Construction, Dallas
Outside Design Consultants: System Associates, Dallas (MEP); Hunt & Joiner Inc., Dallas (structural)
Ceramic Tile: Dal-Tile, Dallas
Concrete Flooring: L.M. Scofield Co., St. Petersburg, Fla.
Construction Materials and Machinery: Southern Store Fixtures Inc., Bessemer, Ala.
Fixturing: Madix Store Fixtures, Terrell, Texas
Foodservice Equipment: BKI, Simpsonville, S.C.
Graphic Fabricator: Infiniti Décor, Godley, Texas
Lighting: Sesco Lighting Inc., Tampa
Refrigeration: Kysor/Warren, a subsidiary of Enodis PLC., Columbus, Ga.
Photography: Scott Hales, PBL, Carrollton, Texas