ELEPHANT’S DELICATESSEN - LAKE OSWEGO

The design of Elephant’s Lake Oswego location took advantage of the space’s ample natural light coming in from the north and east windows and one existing skylight. The center island ‘halo’ was designed to maximize the natural light coming in from above to illuminate the centerpiece of the store - all of the beautiful, colorful, delicious food! The customer facing outer ring of the island is a combination of refrigerated cases for charcuterie, gelato and artisanal dishes mixed with countertops and tiered shelves to display bread, sweets, crackers and jam.  The central station of the island offers cold beer on tap and provides enhanced functionality and workspace for the staff. 

The hotline was intentionally designed as an ‘open kitchen’ with clear sightlines from the main entrance to reveal ‘where the magic happens.’ Soup wells are integrated into the countertops and a tile surround turns the corner into the seating area, further reinforcing an open floor plan where food preparation happens in real time adjacent to neighbors and community members gathering over food and drink.  The approximate 3500 SF store is mix of a bright, modern sensibility with the warm, welcoming timeless Elephant’s bistro vibe where the sound of families and friends chatting and laughing usually outweigh the plates clanking in the back of house.