Long Island City, New York-based dash design has completed the interiors of the Olde Bar, a special events venue and oyster saloon in Philadelphia headed by James Beard award-winning chef Jose Garces.
The 4,650-square-foot eatery and cocktail house is located in the former Bookbinder’s space—which once housed the city’s oldest seafood restaurant—and includes two event rooms centered around the main bar and dining room.
“We’re paying homage to the original traditions that made Bookbinder’s a landmark in Philadelphia,” says Garces. “It’s an important responsibility to live up to the history of a building and the expectations for the space. We did our best to recreate the nostalgia of that time and place, but with our own spin.”
In partnership with the Garces Group, Boxwood Architects, and contractor J+J Construction, dash design worked to preserve the building during renovations.
“Since it’s landmarked, we could not alter the façade too much,” says dash principal and founder David Ashen. “We instead established the Olde Bar within the constraints we had and dug into its history, including spending time with the original owner’s grandson, Erich Weiss, to better understand which elements were part of the original design and learn more about the many patrons the restaurant has had over the years. It was well worth the extra time. The finished space strikes a perfect balance between the old and new.”
The façade was painted red and black and features new signage and art portraying animals in period garb. Bookbinder’s memorabilia from Weiss’ own collection is featured throughout the restaurant’s corridors.
