Location: Omaha, Nebraska
Client: Sweet Magnolias Bake Shop
Year Completed: 2022
Renovation Cost: $240,000
Size: 950 sf
Program: Interior tenant improvement – bakery and retail food sales.
Architect: Goodlife Architecture
Contractor: Brester Construction Inc.
MEP Engineering: Engineering Technologies, Inc. – ETI
Structural Engineering: Performance Engineering
Within the mixed-use Millwork, a massive 1906 former furniture warehouse known as The Ashton – complete with signature water tower – looms large. Amongst creative office space, a trendy taproom, eateries and a large community gathering area, the smallest bay on the back dock was the perfect next location for Omaha’s favorite little bake shop. Goodlife was tasked with translating the delightful and quirky character of the original bakery to this new location in a way that wouldn’t feel inauthentic.
Within the mixed-use Millwork, a massive 1906 former furniture warehouse known as The Ashton – complete with signature water tower – looms large. Amongst creative office space, a trendy taproom, eateries and a large community gathering area, the smallest bay on the back dock was the perfect next location for Omaha’s favorite little bake shop. Goodlife was tasked with translating the delightful and quirky character of the original bakery to this new location in a way that wouldn’t feel inauthentic.
Our solution celebrates the heavy industrial brick and timber structure of the warehouse building, while contrasting with bright and cheeky curves, colors and fittings to interpret the delicate and decadent confections. The bakers’ work area is open to the retail counter allowing patrons to observe the messy yet precise process of crafting scratch ingredients into beautiful and delicious consumables. Details which express the signature flavors of Talley’s personality – strong, witty, and purposeful – are sprinkled throughout the design.
Existing historic wood floors were carefully removed and reinstalled after leveling the woefully wavy warehouse floor. The iconic brand statement of “Get Sconed” was reinterpreted to match the existing historic character of Millwork Commons. The design team worked with the contractor to implement a layered installation, which would allow the graphic to be removed without causing permanent damage to the historic hard wood floors.
