Justa Pasta came to Owen Gabbert, LLC asking for a full refresh and revamp of their restaurant, but it came with a tight timeline: the entire remodel needed to be complete within a quick three-week shutdown. We accepted the challenge, and we’re happy we did because the final result is a beautiful restaurant that’s as fresh as the handmade pastas being served up on the daily. 

To start, we engaged Casework, a Portland-based full-service interior architecture and design firm who we felt would help bring the right tone and aesthetic to the project. Working collaboratively, we wiped the slate clean, taking nearly all furniture away, getting rid of all remaining light fixtures from the original buildout 20 years ago, and removing all built-in casework. Left with just the sheetrock and structure of the building, we first refinished the floor, retiled kitchens and eating areas, added new furniture and casework throughout, and repainted the walls.

One of the biggest elements of this project was ensuring that the remodel of Justa Pasta improved the overall flow of the experience for both the restaurant staff and the customers who would eventually dine in the new space. Working with Casework, we blended form and function in both the build and the design elements of the final interior. We think Casework said it beautifully in their recent blog post about the collaboration: “At Casework, our goal for design is to not only be beautiful but also intuitive. We want to inform the customer without overwhelming them with signage so they can make the realization on their own.

One way we achieved this was to open up the area completely. We pushed the once centrally located wine shelf to the wall. It's a beautiful backdrop and one of the first things you see when you walk in the restaurant! The large island helps to create a natural separation. This separation pushes people into a line for ordering and still leaves room for staff to easily deliver plates of food without a million "excuse me's" at a busy lunch service or roped off sections.”

We believe that working with the right partners can help a good project turn into one that’s outstanding, and we’re certain that in this case, working with Casework helped Justa Pasta to reinvent itself in a way that is new and fresh, but still familiar to longstanding customers.