H MART Ridgefield, NJ
Renovation Project
Established in 1999, the H Mart Ridgefield store proudly celebrates its 22nd anniversary. It has been a beloved H Mart destination in the NY/NJ area since its opening. With its consistent success and popularity, it has stood as a key Asian grocery hub for over two decades. However, finding the right time for renovation was a challenge due to its constant flow of customers. Thanks to the recent expansion of the H Mart Littleferry location, the Ridgefield store was able to redirect its customers and finally undergo the long-awaited renovation.
INTERIOR / ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN Hyungoo Kang, Brad Bang
CREATIVE DIRECTION Elizabeth Kwon, Hyungoo Kang
INTERIOR DESIGN Sukjune Choi
FABRICATION Sukjune Choi, Chanhee Park, Jhon Garcia
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The Ridgefield store, in contrast to the freshly opened H Mart locations in Littleferry, Paramus, and Yonkers, maintained its original visual appearance for a significant period. Unlike the modern design consistency seen in newer H Mart branches, Ridgefield's aesthetics lacked sophistication. Soffit walls remained plain, devoid of the department signage crucial for guiding customers. The installed point-of-purchase displays showcased outdated designs and fonts rarely seen in H Mart's current branding.
Materials
When customers enter, they're greeted by the lively produce section adorned with light-colored hickory wood planks, creating a welcoming atmosphere for picking fresh produce.
In the meat section, we went for a rustic, vintage feel by installing weathered reclaimed wood planks vertically. This design perfectly complements the different meat products available, creating an environment in sync with what's offered.
Meanwhile, the seafood section features brushed corrugated metal panels, not only fitting an industrial, rustic look but also guiding customers seamlessly from the meat section to maintain a consistent and appealing design.
Additionally, aside from the materials, the graphics and department signs played a vital role in defining the store's vibe. Our team carefully chose images, colors, and fonts, placing them thoughtfully to guide customers and create a pleasing and unified shopping experience throughout the store.
Extras
Our team saw the Ridgefield store as an ideal testing ground - a unique opportunity to experiment with new materials and fabrication processes. Given its proximity to our studio, we could seamlessly integrate trending materials such as plexiglass, LED lighting, and CNC-cut PVC. This experimentation sets the stage for potential future implementations of these techniques in upcoming store locations.
