of the restaurant is juxtaposed with the use of warm woods, rich colors and vintage accents.
The industrial feel The flooring is exposed concrete, conduit
is visible and acoustical ceiling panels are hung from the joists, adding to the raw, ex- posed environment. Grabe’s layout took its shape from the
existing building. Clustering seating areas and using rich colors and finishes helped create the sense of intimacy Upward Proj- ects desired. The new openings in the building shell
make the space much more welcoming than it had been in the past. “It was important for the design to open up the restaurant to en- gage the rest of the district,” explains Chris- topher Nieto, principal with Shepley Bul- finch. “You see that in a number of elements, including the generous use of glass, the new outdoor seating with its view of the historic water tower and the indoor/outdoor bar. The design piques the curiosity of passersby and creates a strong sense of invitation.” The industrial feel of the restaurant is
juxtaposed with the use of warm woods, rich colors and vintage accents that were salvaged by Upward Projects. Bailey and Kris DeMarco search the world for one-of-a-kind pieces to use in their restaurants. “We never like to buy anything out of a catalog that anyone else can get,” Bailey says. “We like to find objects that are unexpected. We rely on Etsy, eBay and craigslist, as well as have re- lationships with furniture dealers here and in Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York who call us when something comes in that we may like.”
The Neighborhood Connection
After a year in production, Postino East opened in March 2012 with a benefit for a group associated with Gilbert Public Schools. “We created a ‘First Look’ event that benefitted Arizona Brainfood, which is an organization that provides meals to kids at night and on the weekends,” Bailey explains. “We sold tickets to the event with 100 percent of the proceeds going to Ari- zona Brainfood. It was a great turnout, and the event was amazing.” Six months after its opening, Gilbert’s
residents continue to embrace Postino East. “The restaurant’s popularity since its open- ing and the response of community plan- ners offer compelling testimony to the suc- cessful execution of the original vision and to Postino East’s contribution to the eco- nomic and aesthetic vibrancy of Gilbert’s Heritage District,” Grabe notes. The success of the restaurant also is a testament to Upward Projects’ company culture. “We can have a beautifully de- signed room and the best food, but what makes a restaurant successful is the peo- ple who come to it,” Bailey states. “They provide the energy and excitement. That’s why we’re so dialed into the community. We really want to make sure that all their needs are met because at the end of the day without them you’re just left with a re- ally pretty, empty space.”
Postino East is one of three Postino wine cafés in the Phoenix area. It serves
Italian food and rotates its wine list regularly. A signature wine wall provides the backdrop for the dining experience.
Lauren Bailey and Kris DeMarco, part- ners in Phoenix-based Upward Projects, search for one-of-a-kind pieces to use
in their restaurants. A vintage Italian mid-cen- tury light fixture adds an unexpected accent to Postino East.
PHOTOS: KAT NANIA, COURTESY OF SHEPLEY BULFINCH September October 2012 // RETROFIT 27