For the design of Delicatessen, nemaworkshop explored the concept of
urban identity, namely the vibrant SoHo neighborhood and more
specifically the NY newsstand. Typically overlooked because of its
ubiquity, the newsstand serves as an atypical yet appropriate model.
They are open, in-and-out thoroughfares which foster a unique breed of
social energy. In order to capture this energy, the main dining space
opens up to the bustling street corner with large retractable
steel-and-glass garage doors. Traditional boundaries between street and
restaurant evaporate, allowing the main dining space to be loosely
defined and astonishingly inviting. Underneath the bar stands a
collection of clear soda pop bottles while behind the bar the wall is
clad in leather subway tiles.