how a historic building
became a downtown destination.
A homage to Celina, The Anchor is laying down strong roots in its hometown.
ARCHITECTURE, INTERIOR DESIGN, BRAND & STRATEGY
INTRODUCTION
4,000 SF
date
2021
team
Cally Lange
Julie Werling
Lauren Knapke
Valerie Post
The Anchor | Celina, Ohio
A hometown restaurant and bar, specializing in craft cocktails and signature dishes, calls home to a downtown Celina building that once housed Charlie’s Pastry Shop. The Anchor will put a premium on handcrafted foods, a perpetually rotating line of craft beers from all corners, and handmade cocktails. Specializing in craft beers, cocktails, and wine, this modern gastropub embraces the history of Grand Lake Saint Marys. The dark and moody exterior adorned with sleek signage and nautical accents invites you inside, or out to the patio, to drop anchor and have a glass.
THE ANCHOR WEBSITE
The Revival Team was asked to create an experience, beginning with brand & strategy, architecture, signage, and following the process through with interior selections and finishes. Our team had the pleasure of taking an old, historic building and creating a much-needed destination to connect with friends and family.
Working with a long and narrow building footprint, space planning for the kitchen, bar, seating areas, and restrooms had to be meticulously thought out to maximize functionality. By adding a new covered patio on the back side of the site, we were able to connect the outdoor patio area by a garage door, giving way to high-top seating areas.
exterior restoration
In order to preserve the historic bones of the building, our designers chose to expose the existing art-glass transoms on the front of the building. With new windows and doors within existing openings, a refresh to the front brick with paint, and new stone wainscotting, our designers helped breathe new life back into The Anchor. The south side of the building was in rough shape. A dark charcoal metal siding, displayed vertically, was installed. The rear facade underwent tuck-pointing and painting to give it a new appearance.
Open Air Experience
The Anchor’s unique facade provides its patron’s opportunity to enjoy the fresh air with a stunning view of downtown Celina while its folding storefront windows are open. This allowed us to connect the street traffic to The Anchor on warmer days.
The Anchor features a large, custom-built bar topped with quartz countertops, lit caged liquor cabinets, and a sexy fourteen-spout tap system, filled with their rotating local beer selection. The dark metals mixed with reeded glass, aged brass, open shelving, and exposed brick “anchor” the space. This area is completed with caramel, faux leather bar stools — perfect for an intimate date night seating or gathering for a pint to watch the big game.
With 14-foot ceilings, acoustics became a concern throughout the entire construction process. Our designers combatted this by combining elements of design, function, and local history with custom–printed acoustical paneling. This historic map sketch shows the Grand Lake Region in 1988, bringing a touch of nostalgia to the dining experience while serving the purpose of absorbing and reducing background noise. Above their gold velvet banquette is a custom, Revival-designed, map of Grand Lake St. Marys, printed on acoustical panels to aid in absorbing excess sound in the bar.
The lighting throughout the space had to be carefully thought out due to the high ceilings and narrowness of the building. Simple wall washers were installed to highlight the artwork on the walls. Oversized industrial pendants dropped from the ceiling to bring the lighting closer to the tables. On several walls, there were custom wall sconces using metal conduits with caged, aged brass nautical lights to provide light and be a stunning design element.
transition to the outdoors
The owner’s goal was to draw patrons to downtown Celina. A spacious covered patio, incorporating two glass garage doors, gives The Anchor the option to create an open-air experience that can be used year-round — especially in the warmer months. Live music in the Ship Yard can be enjoyed from this space as well.
The nautical theme is carried onto the patio in a variety of ways. Serving refreshments out of a salvaged shipping container, patrons can carry their drinks to take photos next to a five-foot authentic anchor, or sit and enjoy the shade provided by natural-textured sails spanning over the casual, picnic-style seating.
With its historic facade and downtown location, The Anchor has become a staple in the community heart of Celina. Whether you’re in the mood for a handcrafted burger or meeting an old friend to share a pint, The Anchor has been designed as a place to tie up your boat and relax into a little piece of your hometown.
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