Worthington Square

Creative Brief

Provide a hospitality inspired destination grounded in the nostalgic qualities and characteristics of

Worthington Square’s past that have evolved into the modern place. A simplified combination of inviting outdoor street walk spaces for shopping and dinning, and indoor fashionable five star environment

for comfortably escaping into a “retail daycation.” A second home concept, beginning with the

front door carriage house portal transitioning to a great room filled with natural day lighting, inviting seats,

engaging walkways, and unexpected experiences and conversations by the grand fireplace hearth.

Create moments that are distinctive and memorable. Create moments of explorations

and the photo opportunity of a special time. The first steps onto the property are welcoming and reminiscent

of a grand home with a garden court anchored by a fire fountain, ample seating and romantic

lighting. The entries are glowing glass jewels creating transparency into the interior spaces. The entries

are inspired by greenhouse garden architecture that relax the mood and welcomes the patron. The water fountain court is alfresco simplicity, with a splash of ambient sound and reflectance with natural materials and

simple elegance. The Grand Hallways set a natural stage for retail shops that inspires window shopping

and casual circulation. Comfortable seating areas provide perfect people watching and transitional areas.

A Great Room anchors the community spaces with a grand fireplace and hearth for gathering around and watching the big game, or warming the soul with a good friend or catching up on email in a comfortable space.

The Children’s Garden is a parent’s paradise with ample opportunity for the kids to playfully explore an abstracted topiary garden full of adventure, while its comfortable seating area offers a spot for the stroller moms to congregate.

Fun Project that is just getting started:

PBS_Punch Bowl Social USA Today study

Exterior Study Sketch
Plan Study
From fast food to fine dining, business is up at restaurants

Enlarge By Kevin P. Casey, for USA TODAY The National Restaurant Association reports same-store sales rose in September for the first time in six months.

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By Bruce Horovitz, USA TODAY

America's appetite for eating out is starting to rumble again.

Three years after the $580 billion restaurant industry saw its harshest downturn in decades, there are signals that the worst may be over for an industry that suffered as people saved by eating out less.

"The glow is off the idea that cooking is fun," says Ron Paul, president of Technomic, a research specialist. "Consumers are returning to their old habits." Restaurant business is up in all sectors — from fast-food to casual to tablecloth. The dust began to clear in the third quarter, Paul says, when overall industry same-store sales went positive, following three consecutive years of negative numbers.

Families with kids started visiting restaurants in greater numbers this summer — up 1% following a three-year decline, reports researcher NPD Group.

The National Restaurant Association reports same-store sales rose in September for the first time in six months. "It's a substantially better environment than it's been for years," says Hudson Riehle, the trade group's research chief.

It's been a slog. The industry tried everything from $5 sandwiches to $10 pizzas. The driver hasn't been deals, but the economy. With about 1 million jobs added in the private sector in the past 10 months, more folks are eating out, Riehle says. More business travel and tourism are also helping.

Some are still adjusting. Tim Hortons and Ted's Montana Grill are closing units. The parent of Charlie Brown's Steakhouse filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. But things are improving:

•Upscale. After double-digit declines in 2009, steak house Morton's posted positive same-store sales for the first three quarters of 2010. "The worst is behind us," says CEO Christopher Artinian.

•Midscale. Applebee's same-store sales rose 3.3% in the third quarter. "I'm encouraged by what I'm seeing," says Michael Archer, president. "This has been the most difficult environment I've seen in 30 years." In early 2009,Ruby Tuesday stock was down to $1 a share and same-store sales had fallen double-digits. Now, its stock is above $12 and same-store sales were up 1.3% in the most recent quarter. "There's been a change in momentum throughout the industry," says CEO Sandy Beall.

•Down-scale.Hardee's, hit hard by the recession, is seeing a lift, with same-store sales up 6.8%. "From what we're seeing," says marketing chief Brad Haley, "it looks like we're in a recovery."