KTGY Re-imagined Kalaveras Restaurant Opening Soon
August 31, 2022
Designed with modern flairs that pay homage to traditional elements, diners will be transported to Mexico City
LONG BEACH, Calif. – Aug. 31, 2022 – KTGY, a leading full-service architecture, branding, interior, and planning firm focused on residential, retail, hospitality and mixed-use developments, today announced the re-imagined Kalaveras Restaurant in Long Beach, California will open soon. The Pine Avenue location of the restaurant group features a brand-new design aesthetic for the client.
KTGY, working with the client, looked to elevate the current aesthetic of the Kalaveras restaurant and created an elegant and experiential space. Thoughtful research into culture and traditions, KTGY was inspired by Día de los Muertos, a celebration deeply rooted in Mexican customs. The resulting immersive dining experience transports patrons to the Plaza de la Constitución in Mexico City upon entering the 4,700-square-foot space.
“We are thrilled to expand the existing relationship with our client and collaborate with our Interior design studio. Our seamless interdisciplinary design resulted in a bold, imaginative, and creative restaurant for their new location in Long Beach,” said Brandon Wernli, executive director of production, KTGY. “Together, we delivered a truly immersive experience for patrons to feel they have been transported to Mexico”
The environment simulates a parade-like experience for guests. Wrought-iron screening elements create depth in the space and divide the main dining area, bar and private dining room. Throughout the restaurant, strong arches, rich adobe and wood tones, vibrant patterns, tiles and greenery all mimic the lively atmosphere and architecture of Mexico City.
In the main dining room, guests feel as if they are dining in an atrium, an open-air architectural element often seen in traditional Mexican homes. A salvaged iron door, which inspired the rest of the room’s interior treatment, leads to the private dining room.
Día de los Muertos is traditionally a nighttime celebration. To recreate this energy, darkly colored walls are adorned with light fixtures that emit a warm glow resembling the candles used for ofrendas. The wood furniture complements the blue tile, natural woods and breezeway blocks throughout. Playful touches are sprinkled throughout, including a back wall of floor-to-ceiling dancing skeletons, larger-than-life sugar skull portraits (for which the restaurant is named) and a marigold installation that adorns the ceiling.
“Our focus was on conceiving a festive and warm environment as we worked alongside the retail studio to create and execute a new vision for Kalaveras restaurant in Long Beach,” said Gina Deary, principal, KTGY. “Our unique design delivers an experience at the intersection of architecture, art, and culture which allows patrons to have a truly meaningful connection to the food as well as the culture.”
Chile Verde has partnered with KTGY to complete architectural work for other Kalaveras locations. This is the first time the team engaged KTGY’s interior design studio to lead the design and conceptualization which included reimagining the existing brand and designing all restaurant elements. As is necessary during most renovation efforts, the architectural team brought the space up to current accessibility and code standards.
The new restaurant officially opens to the public in Fall 2022.
