Lost Shoe Brewing and Roasting Company
Marlborough, MA
Lost Shoe Brewing and Roasting Company
Lifelong Marlborough, MA, residents and brewery owners JP and Melynda Gallagher wanted to bring their passion for beer and coffee to the downtown milieu, but the compact, urban site was particularly challenging and required the gut renovation of a former night club. To boot, the L-shaped interior and previous design choices made the space feel like a dark cave—perhaps ideal for its former use, but not for the vision of the new owners. To make people feel welcome, Lost Shoe needed to significantly improve its curb appeal outside and introduce some warmth and brightness inside.
To transform the building, we capitalized on the simple idea of getting more natural light into every corner. Formerly darkened windows were restored to transparency on the front and side of the building, simultaneously improving both exterior and interior experiences for visitors. Now, passersby are greeted with a full view of the inviting guest spaces as well as the shining roasting and brewing equipment. Inside, guests can get comfortable at the 25-seat bar, German beer hall tables, or lounge areas featuring leather couches and chairs arranged around cobbler benches repurposed into coffee tables—all of which are angled to provide outdoor views from any seat. Glass walls around the brewing and roasting facilities permit natural light into the elongated work space while also enabling customers to witness the start-to-finish production of their beverages of choice. As evening falls, vintage-style light fixtures give a warm glow to the industrially inspired surfaces, adding further to the friendly, pleasant ambience of Lost Shoe.
The Gallaghers are making a point to honor their hometown’s history in its aesthetic and name. Melynda explains: “Our taproom is a place for the community to come together to enjoy locally brewed beer and freshly roasted coffee in an environment reminiscent of our city’s past as a shoe-manufacturing center.” Concrete, wood, brick and leather are featured throughout, fostering a warm and welcoming atmosphere, with an underlying nod to the local industrial traditions.