Completed 2012
2,500 square feet
Commercial fit-out

Building on the success of The Urban Grape store in Chestnut Hill after its first year in business, OEA was hired by owner’s TJ and Hadley Douglas to design a second wine store in Boston’s South End neighborhood. Somewhat awkwardly shaped, but larger than the original retail space and benefitting from 14-foot tall ceilings and greater frontage along an important pedestrian-friendly avenue, this bright and welcoming retail space, completed in September 2012, has wholly transformed the formerly desolate city block on which it stands. The new store is related to its sibling store through the use of a similar complementary palette of polished concrete and natural wood, though white-washed walls and custom wine shelving fabricated of white powder-coated aluminum give the space the contemporary flair of a downtown art gallery. Providing a point of focus at each end of the space are a retail counter and 6 foot by 15 foot tasting table, both fully clad in hardwood walnut boards. The two elements are further accentuated by clusters of pendant light fixtures overhead, made from old demijohn wine bottles of varying sizes.