Brice Jones, Brad Gallagher, and Juan Carlos Vasquez believe in the overlap between work and downtime. Den, their immense new project at South 3rd Street and Kent Avenue, directly opposite the former Domino Sugar factory lot, is designed to demonstrate that concept. “It’s really about the work during the day, and then play at night,” says Jones. “It’s that transition.”
The concept takes particular inspiration from hybrid venues like the Ace Hotel lobby. “We’re a hotel lobby without the hotel rooms,” Jones explains. The massive, multipurpose space — formerly a plumbing warehouse — will serve as a communal workspace and coffee shop by day (laptops welcome!) and a lounge-bar by night, with full restaurant service throughout. With its skylights and wall-to-wall windows, the three partners, who are Soho House alums, envision a perpetually comfy and inviting space. Inside, the design steers away from the typical postindustrial Brooklyn aesthetic in favor of a more “70s modern” look.
The concept takes particular inspiration from hybrid venues like the Ace Hotel lobby. “We’re a hotel lobby without the hotel rooms,” Jones explains. The massive, multipurpose space — formerly a plumbing warehouse — will serve as a communal workspace and coffee shop by day (laptops welcome!) and a lounge-bar by night, with full restaurant service throughout. With its skylights and wall-to-wall windows, the three partners, who are Soho House alums, envision a perpetually comfy and inviting space. Inside, the design steers away from the typical postindustrial Brooklyn aesthetic in favor of a more “70s modern” look.
The view from the front door, just steps from the Domino Sugar factory site.Photo: Steven Staufer
The menu will be Americana-influenced, what Gallagher dubs “gourmet dorm food,” and drinks will consist, for the most part, of domestic beers and American-distilled spirits. In addition to the main space, there is a large outdoor patio, a separate 2,000-square-foot event space that can be partitioned off from the main room, as well as a coffee shop serving Stumptown coffee, cold brew on tap, baked goods, and Liquiteria smoothies.
The team is aiming for an April opening, but plan to have the coffee-shop component of the space open before year’s end.
DEN, 43 South 3rd St., nr. Wythe Ave.; no phone yet
