In the heart of the new Westfield Center at the renowned World Trade Center development, Henry Meer has opened a world class wine and spirits store. His vision was developed through almost two decades of working in Downtown Manhattan as the owner of City Hall restaurant. CCS Architecture was approached to develop that vision; an industrial downtown edge blended with the characteristic warmth and legacy unique to wine and spirits to create a refreshing modern take on this beverage focused retail location.
Upon approaching the store within the white marble corridor, the conceptual emphasis is apparent. The store is not a typical bright retail outlet. The voluminous yet dim interior piques curiosity, starting with the window display that playfully exaggerates a slice of a white oak wine barrel balanced on a sleek blackened steel base. It is surpassed by the expansive barrel ceiling made of white oak staves and black steel bands hovering over the main room.
The 1,200 SF space is open and welcoming with tall custom floor-to-ceiling white oak cabinets loaded with bottles of wine from around the world. Along the perimeter of the main room at eye level, visitors are focused toward unique wine bottles with the glow of indirect display lighting. The array of bottles leads to the back of the main room where a custom blackened steel refrigerated wine wall houses special vintages illuminated by integrated lighting.
Near the back, a niche space displays the liquor selection with illuminated shelves glowing through the golden tones of various spirits. The overall focused lighting keeps the space dim and reminiscent of a wine cellar, but carefully identifies the merchandise stations built on steel wheels, the zinc and walnut cash wrap, and the continuous stainless steel rolling ladder and rail system traversing the store. As consistent as a good vintage, the store maintains a balance with the warmth and softness of wood against the cool edginess of various metals be it zinc, blackened or stainless steel.
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