Café Case

Kawaii Coffee

A compact West Village space, reimagined into a high-end Vietnamese café.

PROJECT OVERVIEW

Time: 2025
Location: West Village, New York
Size: 250 square feet
Duration: 4 months
Cost: $130K
Average Check: $15+ per person

PROJECT CHALLENGES

Tiny Space

Landmarked Building

A narrow space must accomodate the work flow of a coffee shop business.

*Existing condition

CLIENT EXPECTATIONS

Cost control

A coffee shop that functions flowlessly

A space that looks classy, vibrant and warm to reflect the quality of the coffee, as well as to echo with the branding of the shop.

*Expection

DELIVERED RESULTS

A compact space that supports a premium experience and pricing.

A high-end café within a $130K budget
Efficient and reliable daily operation in a 275 SF space.
Supports premium pricing ($15+ per customer)
Consistently strong customer satisfaction (5-star Google reviews)
Featured by major media outlets (FOX / NBC).

EXPECTATION ACHIEVED & BEYOND

*Featured by media.

*4.9-star Google reviews on 04/19/2026.

OUR APPROACH

Every decision was guided by how the space would perform in real use.

Layout Tested in Reality

We worked closely with the client on-site to study the space and test-fit layouts, ensuring decisions were grounded in real conditions.

Performance-Driven Planning

In collaboration with the coffee consultant, we optimized every inch of the counter and back-of-house to support speed, efficiency, and consistency.

Design with Intent

The client’s aesthetic vision was carefully interpreted and translated into materials, lighting, and spatial composition — balancing visual warmth with a clean, elevated feel.