Henry's Marketplace

The Henry's Marketplace grocery chain can trace its origins to 1943, when the Boney family bought a truckload of peaches and began selling them on a street corner in San Diego. That history is reflected in the company's prototype in Costa Mesa, Calif., which re-creates the feel of a farmer's market.

“The goal for the prototype was to build on the already-popular concept of our Henry's stores, which are known for their farm-fresh produce,” says John Baker, vp and general manager of the 20-store chain, which is owned by Wild Oats Markets Inc. (Boulder, Colo.). “The use of reclaimed materials for signage, the low-profile shelving and keeping the produce department at the heart of the store helped us achieve that objective.”

Serving as the grocer's design partner for the prototype was Design Forum (Dayton, Ohio). “We worked to create a rich tactile palette in the store, and also to convey a sense of 'making do' by using found materials and conditions,” says Bruce Dybvad, Design Forum's president.

The 25,000-square-foot prototype features reclaimed wood from an 1890s tobacco factory in Kentucky as the soffit wall finish, while reclaimed barn lumber was transformed into signage. Interspersed throughout the space are corrugated metal, reused brick and conduit piping that complement the wooden, crate-style fixturing. 

Client: Henry's Marketplace, Boulder, Colo. – John Baker, vp and general manager; Tracy Lindsey, director, plan development; Abel Villacorta, creative director; Mike Kramer, senior director, construction; Jay Brown, plan development manager

Design: Design Forum, Dayton, Ohio – Bruce Dybvad, president; Donny Victorianus, senior environmental designer; Mike Vine, senior graphic designer; Lisa Ganka, senior interior designer; Meg Kenney, senior account manager

Suppliers: Akron Brick and Block, Akron, Ohio (concrete block); Robinson Brick Co., Denver (thin-brick veneer); Stonhard, Maple Shade, N.J., L.M. Scofield, Los Angeles, Parterre, Brooklyn, N.Y. (floor finishes); Formica, Cincinnati (plastic laminates); Sherwin-Williams, Cleveland (paint); DVS Industries, Burlington, N.J. (signage); Chicago Metallic Corp., Chicago, Armstrong World Industries Inc., Lancaster, Pa. (ceiling systems)

Darris Harris, Padgett & Co., Chicago