ChoLon Restaurant Illustration Development_Denver

Hanoi

Considered the cultural center and former capital of North Vietnam, Hanoi’s French influence shows in the charming tree-lined streets, lakes throughout the city, and abundant French colonial architecture, seen in buildings like the Opera House and the Presidential Palace. Romantic Hoan Kiem Lake is home to a variety of picturesque temples and bridges.

Two important landmarks are the Temple of Literature, the site of the country’s oldest university, and Ba Dinh Square, where communist revolutionary Ho Chi Minh ceremoniously declared Vietnam’s independence in 1945.

Cholon Market

In 1788, a group of Chinese from Pho and My Tho Islands came to Ben Nghe River Dike and founded a market which developed into the existent ChoLon Market, offering a wide array of products. This is Vietnam’s Chinatown market. It is an attractive site for observing a very lively atmosphere.

It remains home to more than 500,000 people, many of whom are of Chinese origin. The area and its side-streets and markets provide an interesting glimpse of Sino-Vietnamese life, as the Vietnamese Chinese strive to retain their cultural traditions and language. In addition to temples, traditional apothecaries, fortune tellers and the like, some excellent Chinese food is available in ChoLon.

Develop a restaurant concept influenced by the distinct characteristics of the ChoLon market found in Vietnam’s Chinatown on the Ben Nghe Dike. The aromas, lighting, atmosphere, architecture, collection of local foods and sense of community will be brought together to create

a comfortable and inspiring dining place unique to Denver, Colorado.

Build a simple, sustainable and comfortable lunch and dinner restaurant with various seating arrangements in a unique atmosphere. This will include a central community table for all, an exclusive chef’s table with a view to the kitchen, plush banquettes, table tops for flexibility and a lounge area to entertain before, after and in between meals.

Provide a fresh and invigorating, holistic and healthy dining experience. Fresh, hand-selected local ingredients will be combined with one of the world’s most creative chefs, Lon Symensma. The interior will reflect this freshness by incorporating local materials and finishes and theatrical lighting.

Create a concept that will instill a sense of community and connectivity. The design and décor will reflect French Colonial architecture, capturing the romantic and inquisitive imaginations of the patrons. This setting will abstractly reflect a “theatre of dinner” where everyone is invited on the stage with the chef. The interior design will work together with unique graphic elements such as menus to form a truly awe-inspiring experience.