Mellow Johnny’s

Mellow Johnny’s move from its historic building in downtown Austin to the bustling Lady Bird river front area proved to be a perfect fit.

The location, where the Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge meets the Butler Hike and Bike Trail alongside the Lance Armstrong Bikeway placed the shop at the heart of Austin’s cycling community and provided the opportunity to rethink and expand not only its retail space but its relationship to the city. The result is a unique combination of retail and co-working space that offers new ways of thinking about how uses can not only co-exist, but also create an environment that fosters connection among diverse groups of people.

The shop is identified on its exterior by a band of UCI (the governing body for world cycling) colors that also brand the shop’s interiors. The south façade received a new steel canopy that creates a shaded public space for the
surrounding pedestrian friendly development. It also provides ample space for people to gather for rides and test bikes from the shop.

Inside the space, which previously housed a shoe store and a satellite company, the architects adapted existing office spaces and reconfigured a retail floor to create a dynamic experience that adapts to changing needs.

The double height retail and second level co-working space creates a synergetic relationship between the two functions, merging the creative and collaborative energy of the office space with the shop’s activity below. This vibrant atmosphere is bolstered by the natural light and views to the lake outside.

BUILDER:
Blue Construction

PHOTOGRAPHER:
Andrea Calo