The owners of a successful retail and restaurant concept in Chicago sought to launch a second location in the reimagined Plaza del Lago, an historic, open-air shopping center on the city’s North Shore. In approximately 5,000 square feet of space, SPACE 519 planned to offer its distinctive, highly curated shopping experience, provide multiple dining options for visitors and host events to engage the community.

SPACE 519 features women’s designer clothing, accessories, home goods, gifts, and other global finds personally selected by the owners. The Lunchroom welcomes guests for sit-down breakfast, lunch and weekend brunch with a focus on California-style, vegetable-forward cuisine and local food sources, while The Lunchbox offers assorted grab-and-go snacks and drinks. The Lago Room, in the Wilmette location, provides a spot to meet for morning coffee or a late afternoon or early evening glass of wine.

Design considerations were a particularly important element of the Plaza del Lago project, and the owners led their own interior design. The DMA team supported project goals from concept to completion: providing design review and coordination among multiple parties to maintain the tenant’s aesthetic standards; expediting and coordinating the progress of retail and food elements; facilitating project team communication; monitoring onsite construction and more. Work enabled SPACE 519 to open as envisioned, in a predictable timeframe that amplified market impact and income.