Through a combination of architectural design, branding, and culinary excellence, our client aimed to bring a more cosmopolitan dining experience to Grand Rapids, while remaining sensitive to local culture. Their mission was to create a beautiful atmosphere in an old building, where the timeless tradition of dining in community could be celebrated.
Gin Gin’s is a full-service restaurant that serves over 200 patrons, with three separate dining experiences that offer high quality food in a modern setting, with old-world charm.
The owners chose an existing vacant early 20th-century building for their new restaurant. Multiple previous tenants occupied the space, leaving layers of history and use. The original façade, structure, and roof have been fully restored. The existing building envelope was preserved to honor the past, but major functional work was required to infill a steep sloping basement ramp to create an outdoor patio that seats roughly 50 patrons.
Inside, the floors and ceilings were the most challenging. The theme for all finish procurement was authenticity. Each finish specification either preserved an existing texture, or complemented it with an enhanced sense of timelessness. The use of drywall, for example, was not a historic material so was not installed in any public spaces. All existing ceiling structure was sandblasted and clear-finished to preserve its character. Extensive structural steel, wood, and leveling were required in the floors to support the new occupancy and kitchen equipment, but, more importantly, an expansive tile surface that unifies the feeling of the space as classic and established.
The interior is divided into two separate dining experiences, created to evoke feelings of surprise and sophisticated comfort. The main dining area is intentionally intimate, with a bar and seating focused around the large operable windows that open into an elegant outdoor patio. The main area features a full-service bar and open grill concept where food, drink, and good company are celebrated. The Gin Gin’s Lounge is accessible through a hidden pocket door. This separate dining experience hosts a smaller bar with larger booth seating, designed with the warmth and authenticity of an early 20th-century speakeasy.
Our team collaborated closely with artist and interior designer, David Dodde, who developed the interior to bring a colorful experience rich with texture. Again, authenticity was critical to the design - all millwork needed to be solid core wood, and the profiles needed to communicate solidity and tradition. Throughout, the reimagined space incorporates emotive furnishings paired with traditional elements that ensure an experience for creating important memories.
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