Retail at The Commons breathes new life into Main and 1st Street’s historic 1930’s Texaco gas station. To honor Texaco’s original 1934 designer, Walter Dorwin Teaque, architects utilized a clean, white, enamel-clad look wrapped in Texaco’s iconic three green stripes. The same glass-enclosed office spaces and service bays used in nearly 10,000 Texaco stations across the country are now reimagined into social spaces. Roll-up garage doors connect the indoor and outdoor spaces, while a glass railing around the perimeter connects Retail at The Commons to the rest of the community by minimizing any visual barriers. In the evening, the warm glow of string lights hung above the bocce ball court, lawn area, firepit and picnic tables attract passersby to indulge in this eatery’s inviting atmoshpere. The city’s request for a public art mural on the 500 square-foot adjacent building completes the mood. By utilizing the familiarity guests have with classic design elements and adapting this space to meet the needs of the modern consumer, architects created a nostalgic and welcoming atmosphere for Riverside locals to frequent with friends and family.
