Storefronts & Wordmarks

The perfect marriage

Ahhh the charming cafe / bar. All uniquely perfect in their own way. What makes them that way? Their curb appeal is intentional, but I want to take a moment to understand how they become this beautiful mix of expressive type and interior design rolled into one. This post will test my knowledge of descriptive adjectives and ability to explain what I’m seeing… so with that being said, let’s dissect:

A charming blend of classic design with zany, fun illustrations to give Three Olives & Wine some character. Their commonalities are that all aspects are relatively simple. This aesthetic is definitely something I lean into once in a while and thoroughly enjoy. 7/10.

The Little Butler… the wordmark is a classic, strong sans serif accented in gold. It reads like they’re going to serve me some excellent food and coffee. Their curb-design made of white brick is appealing, espeically when paired with that warm, mid-toned wood. 7/10.

While not a storefront or image that has text in it, it is still worthy of review. The nouveau art on the wall is eclectic and bright drawing the eyes right to it. It’s warm and accents the rest of the cafe perfectly.

Next, the eyes move on to the exciting menu on the table. A fun menu, to me is an underrated experience that brings a bit of delight into people’s day. Surrounding that lovely corner is warm woods, even a retro wood paneling and perhaps wood built-ins. And, you can’t forget the classic cafe chairs. All timeless in my opinion. 8/10.

Here we have what looks to be a modernized / restored brick building turned pizza restaurant. It’s stunningly simple yet full of character. The wordmark is a simple sans serif, likely because they’re letting the environment speak for the viewing experience over the logo. Personally, I may like to see a wordmark with a bit more character, but I can appreciate the direction they went in here. 6/10.

More Za! This must be in a busy environment, otherwise, why put so much effort into standing out (I’m looking at the literal sign, the neon). The type in the illustration is the cherry on top on what I hope is a fantastic pizza shop. Luv it. 8/10

Swoon! So much going on with such a little space. The classic script font with shadows is bright and expressive, all against a white building allowing for so much decoration on the building. You have the classic sign-painter signs on the bottom of the building, different fonts for each of the items they’re trying to sell, cigarette advertisements front and center. The retro framing of the word “Herald” . And last but not least, the giant life-like ice cream cone hovering over the entrance. Gets me everytime. 9/10.

One word: precious. An old storefront made new. The fresh yellow paint is a pop and probably an attention getter from afar. The serif font is precious, and communicates that this shop is lovely cafe to me - word choice represents this too. I adore the Cafe curtains along the window. Cute! 7/10.

Talk about character! I’m a sucker for that classic red and white pairing. It communicates excitement, positivity, nostalgia, and fun. Pair that with some sign-painted type and signage, contrasting green plants, and fun/out of the box packaging. 9/10