Inspiration Everywhere!

Andy and I have descended on our old stomping grounds!  Back in Phoenix for a week to spend the holidays with the Harper family.  Between tree decorating and gift wrapping we managed to sneak out for a few hours to troll around Phoenix, Arcadia, and Scottsdale for some architecture and design inspiration for the Hank & Hazel's building.  We had a few hiccups with our building that slowed us down for a few months this fall, but now we're in the clear and raring to get this thing renovated so we can open this business we're so excited to share with you all!

So- first things first.  Here are some pictures of the building.  From the exterior you can see that it looks a really lame furniture store.  The kind you would never shop in!!  And from the inside, I wanted you to see a picture of the cool roof - it's a wood roof in a barrel shape.  So cool and old-fashioned.  Trust me - they don't build 'em like this anymore!  What we're working on now is how to make this pretty uncool building have a hip, old-timey vibe.

Future home of Hank & Hazel's!

Here's the roof - we want to try to leave at least part of it exposed so it can add to the old-fashioned feel of our market. 

 On our tour of hip, cool food businesses in Phoenix here are a few of our stops (and the learnings we're taking back to our architect!)

Learning #1: Find cool ways to merchandise your products on antique hutches, rolling wooden shelves, branded coolers, etc.

 


Learning #2: Paint cool signage- it's cheap and makes a huge impact (and we have LOTS of exterior wall that needs treatment!)

Learning #3: Offer 15, 16, 17, 18 or 19 minute parking spots.  I swear we saw one of each on our tour.  This one is my favorite!  Since we were just popping in at most of these places we used this feature almost everywhere.

Learning #4: The outdoor patio is key.  Put landscaping in movable containers and use lots of wood to make an inviting space for people to spend time in.

Learning #5: Be small, not big.  You feel so much better in a space that is full of both products and people.  When there's not enough stuff in a market it feels awkward.  And we all know how lame it is to be in a restaurant where there's only one other couple.  You start picking the place apart to try to figure out why you're the only sucker who's there while everyone else is across the street in the trendy new spot.

Delightfully full of interesting stuff!

Why am I the only one in here?!!?!?!?!?

Learning #6: Kids Corner - since we'll be having our own kid around the shop this is a no-brainer for us, but I loved seeing it at the Chestnut!  Andy's dad is hand carving a "rocking-pig" for us, and I want to fill up the rest with those Melissa & Doug food cutting toys and a kid's play kitchen, and a mini-shopping cart for toddlers to follow their parents around the store with.

Learning #7: A nice bathroom.  It makes a place seem so much cooler when even the restroom is nice and matches the decor of the venue.

The one thing we forgot to take a picture of on our tour of Phoenix was Saturday morning cocktail hour at Southern Rail with my super hip cousins Amy and Luke (who gave us the list of all the places we visited for inspiration and continue to send ideas pouring our way!)  Cheers!  

During our stay at the Newton, though, we did somehow catch a photo of Al Michaels doing a book signing at Changing Hands bookstore.  Nice...

So - these are a few of the things we picked up, but we want to hear from you!  What are your favorite features at places you frequent - restaurants, markets, butcher shops etc?  If you want to like our new facebook page: make a post and share some of your ideas with us!  Eventually I hope to start promoting our blog posts there so I can reserve my facebook page for just posting cute pictures of my baby (obviously what facebook was designed for!!)