Chobani Café

Infusing old world tradition into a contemporary experience, the design concept behind Chobani’s first flagship yogurt bar draws inspiration from the rural origins of the product as well as SoHo’s industrial past. Detailed with minimalist precision, the sustainable material choices reflect the natural quality of the brand.

In a nearly archeological process, a l m project revealed the original iron columns and brick piers of this landmarked building, and introduced a Corten steel base characteristic of New York’s cast iron district; what had been covered for almost a century was unveiled. As layers of accumulation were peeled away, a l m carried out Chobani’s philosophy of starting from scratch, from primary and pure ingredients. Flooded with daylight, the austere but warm material palette – diamond plate, recycled steel, concrete, and redwood reclaimed from local New York water tanks – is authentic and ages well. With the centerpiece harvest table, an espresso bar, and bench seating weaving in and out along the building perimeter Chobani Café invites you to linger and pause in a culture of constant movement. 

As design agency for the Café since its conception, a l m created the now-iconic glass serving bowl, topped with a linen cloth that recalls the artisanal yogurt straining process, and developed a visual language considering every aspect of the Café identity – from graphics, menus and digital interfaces to staff outfits, gifts, and packaging for a line of handpicked, small-batch pantry staples.

Chobani

a l m project