The iconic, 150-year-old Empire Stores building in Brooklyn’s Dumbo neighborhood is now home to Sugarcane Raw Bar Grill, the latest dining concept from chef Timon Balloo. New York-based design studio CetraRuddy spearheaded the restaurant’s design.
“Our instinct was to minimally impact this monumental space by celebrating the elemental existing materials and its storied past to maintain its authenticity. New design elements highlight
the cuisine through textural and crafted detail and vibrant color ensembles,” says CetraRuddy founding principal Nancy J. Ruddy. “For example, antiqued Cuban terracotta tiles are embedded in raw concrete and hand-sewn fragments of South American caning create ledges for growing herbs that will be used in daily cooking.”
The atmosphere of the restaurant reflects the essence of its Miami flagship while also honoring the legacy of the Civil War-era structure it calls home. Organic textures and elements are incorporated along with modern, functional pieces, while vibrant notes further enhance the 9,000-square-foot interior. Two large communal tables, an open kitchen, and an 18-seat bar stand out in the dining room, while the 2,000-square-foot patio maximizes the waterfront location.
