Commonwealth Joe co-founders Robert Peck and Chase Damiano bring their passion for coffee to their new flagship store in Crystal City at The Bartlett apartment building. Rooted in their purposeful and crafted approach, the design is inspired by images of blue-collar craftsmen, toolboxes, and the coffee-bean roasting process. CORE created a rich and neutral palette that reflected those simple, thoughtful, hardworking details. Hints of plaid flannel, rust-colored leather, glossy cream tile, concrete counters, and black and brass metals add moments of texture around the store. Light oak is the dominant wood tone, while a warm-grey wood highlights millwork features. The Espresso Station becomes a focal point for guests so they can see the baristas work. The Cupping Room, a dramatic glass and metal volume, opens wide with custom sliding and swinging doors, so the multi-purpose room functions as overflow seating area, a space to facilitate workshops, or a certified space for coffee grading. Seating options throughout the store include the custom-made banquette in the main seating area and a blackened-steel community table on castors. Another unique feature is the store’s connection to the building’s residential lobby, providing residents to a separate Point-of-Sale station right by the lobby entrance.
Client: Robert Peck & Chase Damiamo
Project Team: Allison Cooke, Hilary Miners
General Contractor: Potomac Construction Services
Photography: Greg Powers