The top winner of VMSD’s Retail Renovation Competition not only had to overcome the inherent challenges of any renovation project. The New Orleans space had also been damaged by Hurricane Katrina. For Marc Robért, operator of the Robért Fresh Market chain, the 21,000-square-foot, flood-damaged space was an opportunity to rebuild one of his five grocery stores and help in the area’s revitalization.
Eugene, Ore.-based King Retail Solutions (KRS) worked with Robért to create a store with an easy-to-shop layout, simple conveniences and a sense of local pride.
Judges lauded the clean and simple nature of the design that creates an emotional bond with consumers. “So many grocery stores out there default to the farm market approach,” says Jan Tribbey, vp, store design and construction, Victoria’s Secret, and one of this year’s judges. “I love this for its freshness, complexity and accessible feel.”
In total, five first place awards and five honorable mentions were handed out in this year’s competition (see below). For more on these award-winning projects, see VMSD’s September issue or click here.
FIRST PLACE AWARDS
Conversion – Supermarket
Lakeview Grocery, New Orleans
Submitted by: King Retail Solutions, Eugene, Ore.
Renovation – Department Store
Liverpool Polanco Department Store, Mexico City
Submitted by: FRCH Design Wordwide, Cincinnati
Renovation – Specialty Store, Sales Area Under 10,000 Square Feet
Christian Dior, New York
Submitted by: Shawmut Design and Construction, New York
Renovation – Restaurant/Specialty Food Shop
Starbucks Coffee Co., Olive Way, Seattle
Submitted by: Starbucks Coffee Co., Olive Way, Seattle
Conversion – Discount/Mass Merchant
E-Mart, Seoul, South Korea
Submitted by: WD Partners, Columbus, Ohio
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Renovation – Specialty Store, Sales Area Under 10,000 Square Feet
Chanel, New York
Submitted by: Shawmut Design and Construction, New York
Renovation – Restaurant/Specialty Food Shop
The Colorado Sports Bar, Denver Intl. Airport, Denver
Submitted by: Derek Rubinoff, Roslindale, Mass.
Renovation – Shopping Center/Mall
Akmerkez Shopping Center, Istanbul, Turkey
Submitted by: Concept Intl. Design, Ltd. Bangkok, Thailand
Conversion – Specialty Store, Sales Area Over 10,000 Square Feet
Elliott Bay Book Co., Seattle
Submitted by: 5ive Creative, Seattle
Conversion – Specialty Store, Sales Area Under 10,000 Square Feet
Hugo Boss at the Venetian Resort Hotel Casino, Las Vegas
Submitted by: Fisher Development Inc., San Francisco