(Photo courtesy of Sisters Coffee)
Sisters Coffee Company re-opened their flagship Portland retail cafe earlier after being closed since August 20, 2018. The residential unit above their space experienced a fire and subsequent flooding that caused water damage to much of their cafe. After four and half months of cleanup and restoration, the newly remodeled space has launched with many key upgrades. Sibling owners Jared, Jesse and Justin Durham are excited to share the completely revamped cafe with the Pearl District community. Once again partnering with original designer, Guggenheim Studio, the Durham Family sought to rebuild the space and continue its premium hospitality experience by expanding on original elements in fresh new ways.
“Lighting plays a central role in the design. From the exterior looking in, the large suspended globe lights illuminate the large corner storefront, beckoning folks to pop in for a drink and a light meal. Once inside, the space is punctuated by glowing wall sconces manufactured just down the street at The Good Flock. It is important to us to utilize the talents of local craftspeople and makers whenever possible,” says Jeff Guggenheim, principal designer.
“Eight years ago, the design of the original cafe was Jenny’s and my first major project together. It was instrumental in establishing the groundwork for what would later become Guggenheim Architecture. It has been an amazing experience working with the Sisters Coffee team to redesign a cafe that holds a special place in our hearts.”
The most prominent upgrade is the expanded espresso bar area. “Our vision was to make the bar the focal point of the coffee experience and maximize customer engagement between the barista and the final product,” said Jared. With that in mind, the Durham’s made the switch to a ModBar espresso system that locates the machine below the counter with group heads and steam wands as the only apparatus’ in customer view. “We like the transparency it creates in the brewing process, and the barriers it removes between our team and customers as a key part of our hospitality experience.” The coffee bar also features a kegerator with Nitro Cold Brew on tap.
Next, the Durham’s focused on increased seating by replacing the fireplace with a new 25 foot leather banquette seat. “It was tough to see the fireplace go but once we realized we were going to quadruple the seating in that area, it was an easy choice,” said Justin. They also replaced the built-in bookcase on the upper mezzanine with a long-bench that adds eight seats upstairs.
In addition to improved customer flow, the remodel has a fresh new look that captures the traditional warm tones of the Sisters Coffee brand. The redesign utilizes White Oak throughout the entire concept, providing a rustic yet clean and modern look. Incorporating themes from the recently redesigned packaging, there’s a mural of the Three Sisters on the expansive east wall, crowned with a centerpiece photo of South Sister, taken by local adventure photographer Tyler Roemer.
The coffee and food menus continue to evolve, offering fresh made-to-order breakfast fare and seasonal barista house specials. The Marshall St. Tacos have organic potatoes, black beans and your choice of Soyrizo or Whiskey Smoked Bacon served in two homemade corn tortillas from Three Sisters Nixtamal. The Wild Coho Lox is served on a Bowery bagel with a homemade chevre spread, wild caught smoked salmon and garnished with dill, shallots and capers. The Wild Coho Smoked Salmon from local vendor Provvista.
The “surprise” remodel was a collaboration between the three Durham siblings who currently run Sisters Coffee together. They put much thought into the design in order to improve the customer experience and hope it will provide a warm space, with a great coffee experience for anyone who comes to visit the Pearl. Their hope is to keep the space alive and exciting for customers. The Durham’s have always believed in keeping the business within their family, and want to incorporate that feeling within their staff and customer base by sourcing local ingredients and cultivating community in their shop.
