Hospitality

Bubba Southern Comforts

Des Moines, IA

As part of the renovation of the Clemens Building in Downtown Des Moines, this tenant improvement project was influenced by the building’s era and the restaurant owner’s southern roots. The client’s goal was to create a unique identity for this fine dining establishment featuring southern food and drinks.

The restaurant owner had in mind a specific, distinctive atmosphere for the new restaurant and bar. To achieve his vision, the design team used two oversized custom chandeliers as focal points for guests and as beacons for pedestrians on the heavily-utilized 10th Street pedestrian walkway. Original hexagon tile and exposed exterior brick walls proudly display the rich historic fabric of this building, which is maintained on the National Register of Historic Places. Chesterfield-style sofas, high wing-back chairs, and custom plaid banquettes created an intimate dining space as unique as the menu.

Shannon Swift
Associate, Architect

Working on the Bubba concept with Chris and team was an extremely rewarding experience for INVISION. From day one, the ownership team relayed their desire to create space that not only reflected family history and traditions, but that also provided a dining experience completely different from other selections in the Des Moines area. There were many Pintrest posts, conceptual drawings, details, swatches and samples the whole team would deliberate over to maximize every square inch of the building’s historic shell and to create that right mood and space to compliment the exemplary food to be served. The project team even collaborated on the custom designed and fabricated chandeliers that highlight the main dining areas. From beginning to end, this project epitomized the collaborative efforts of owner and design. 

Other Team Members