APEM Creamery : Bloomfield, NJ : Renovation : 2019
Recipient of a 2022 AIA New Jersey Design Merit Award
A former pizzeria is converted into a creamery and sorbetteria for an enterprising young couple with a background in the culinary arts. Working within a very tight budget, we focused our design energy (and the major construction expense) on the display and serving area. Built in cabinets and matching wall and ceiling paneling help delineate the serving area while simultaneously providing for product display, transactions and storage. The use of wood and concealed cove lighting adds visual warmth to an otherwise cool space.
The front of house seating area retains the original tile floor and tin panel ceiling from the pizzeria. We painted the ceiling black to help hide its many imperfections since the budget did not allow for replacing or repairing it. We added a built-in plywood bench for seating and mounted steel angles on the wall for patrons who needed a place to set things while standing.
The back of house kitchen area was cleaned up and retooled for making the gelato and sorbet. We used dark vinyl flooring, as well as, black wall and ceiling paint to help communicate the more private and off limits nature of this space without completely separating it from the front. A small window is carved out of the wood paneling in the serving area to show off the gelato machine and give a glimpse of the kitchen’s workings.
Photos by Greg Maka
