Greek yogurt manufacturer Chobani opened its first yogurt bar in New York City with a design that peppers Mediterranean cues throughout and focuses on the intersections of city and country, Old World and New World, and wood and metal.
Natural materials, reclaimed local redwood and exposed landmark structure mix with urban accents like steel, diamond plate and copper (used for the façade and interior of the store) to help the design fit into Manhattan's hip, urban SoHo neighborhood.
Inside, a "harvest table" serves as the focal point for the store, with crates of seasonal produce from local farms, along with the full range of Chobani prepackaged yogurt. As customers enter they also pass by the Yogurt Master Bar, which showcases staff creating custom-ordered, fresh-not-frozen yogurt creations while a two-sided pantry area holds a selection of additional Mediterranean oils, nuts and other items for the yogurt makers to use in their creations and for store customers to purchase for takeout. All of the yogurt sold at Chobani SoHo will be shipped in daily from the company's Central New York plant. Hamdi Ulukaya, president and CEO, says his goal is to bring to the masses simple yogurt creations featuring fresh ingredients like the ones he grew up eating in Turkey.