One Off: Independent retail design
Global C-Store Focus has teamed up with Clare Dowdy, author of independent retail design book, One Off, to showcase individual and cutting edge food stores from around the world. Next up is Boule, a French-style patisserie in Los Angeles, California, USA
Modern interior
Michelle Myers studied at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris and drew inspiration for Boule from the local French patisseries.
"When I came back to the US I missed the patisseries on every corner," she says. "My dream was to one day open one in my neighbourhood in LA."
Myers opened Boule in 2004 on La Cienega Boulevard, between West Hollywood and Beverly Hills.
The area was known as ‘restaurant row’ in the mid-eighties. A period of decline followed but it has recently been reinvigorated with boutiques and restaurants including European-style cake shops.
Myers is not daunted by the competition, however.
"The more the merrier because it reinforces LA as a great food town."
Boule takes its name from a round, artisan French loaf and Myers plans to introduce bread in the future.
In the meantime, the store has made its name selling local and seasonal ingredients. The shop’s range includes chocolate, conserves, ice cream and pastries.
The store design is Myers’ own creation.
"I wanted something that reflected my philosophy of cuisine; my technique is a modern take on classical French," she says.
Myers claims to have taken the traditional art deco patisserie and modernised it. The store’s sleek linear display casings are more like those found in a jewellery store, for instance.
The interior design mixes dark wood with industrial finishes such as a concrete floor and metal trays.
Stylish displays
Stylish cake boxes, tied up with brown ribbon, are displayed in pyramids on dark wooden shelving. Traditional glass jars are used to store sweets.
The in-store graphics, featuring lower case letters, also have an art deco-inspired theme.
Myers plans to open two more Boule outlets in the LA area, which will further realise her dream.
One Off by Clare Dowdy is published by Laurence King Publishing Ltd and priced at £30. To order a copy, visit www.laurenceking.co.uk