After its ownership changed hands in 2010, the building’s new owner quickly decided to redefine the Italian Food Center’s identity by challenging the more traditional models and menus embraced by nearby cafes and eateries in Manhattan’s historic Little Italy.
Designed to celebrate the building’s historical context as well as its position at the vanguard of a new generation of businesses in Lower Manhattan, the 5000 square-foot restaurant was completely renovated with an emphasis on salvaged and upcycled materials as well as bespoke fixtures and furniture.
Working directly with the head chef as he developed the restaurant’s bold new menu, the BSDB design team expanded the Italian Food Center to feature two bars, an open kitchen, public wine cellar, interactive storage, an extended sidewalk cafe, and custom lighting throughout. Positioned in one of the densest sections of Lower Manhattan, the new IFC was designed to increase efficiency and enable a renewed sense of place.
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