Creating Vibrant Vintage Vibes | Modern Restaurant Management | The Business of Eating & Restaurant Management News

Some restaurants are designed from a tabula rasa, a complete blank slate with nothing more to go on than the client’s vision and the architects’ imagination. In many ways, this can be especially liberating because it doesn’t impose any limitations or constructs other than the footprint of the land, local ordinances and the laws of physics. However, it’s oftentimes more exciting to embrace the challenge of repurposing an existing space, creating something new and efficient while recognizing and highlighting the details and elements that give the space its authenticity and appeal.

As architects and leaders at AO, we had the special opportunity to convert a historic corner building in our own neighborhood of Old Towne Orange, California., where our own offices have been for more than 45 years, into a contemporary American whiskey bar, Bosscat Kitchen and Libations. Understanding the significance of the local landmark, which housed Rod’s Liquor for 71 years, we worked…

Jeff Rabbitt

Jeff Rabbitt is partner at architecture firm AO, an Orange County, California-based architectural services firm with 10 distinct design studios serving the entire commercial real estate spectrum. Rabbitt is head of AO Restaurant, a design studio he built from the ground up. In this role, he manages client relationships and works directly with design and production teams to deliver best-in-class architectural and client services. He can be reached at (714) 639-9860.

Ruba Younan

Ruba Younan is principal at AO and design director of AO Restaurant, where she works directly with clients while managing AO’s design staff to conceptualize, develop and bring innovative, relevant design solutions to meet the client’s vision. She can be reached at (714) 639-9860.

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Jeff Rabbitt

Ruba Younan