From a dark and dingy old pizza joint to a vibrant and fresh vegan restaurant! This blog post is here to take you along the creative journey as we helped transform Lazzari’s Pizza’s old space into the Rutabaga’s Vegan Comfort Food restaurant you know and love today! Rutabaga’s opened their doors in downtowln Lincoln, NE on O st during the middle of the pandemic in 2020, and today I’m writing a blog post to tell you all about the interior remodel that happened prior to their opening.

Do you remember the old Lazzari’s Pizza? I do because during college one of my close friends worked there. When I wasn’t slaving over a model in Arch Hall, I’d stop in to visit her and eat some delicious pizza. One day, Sara reached out to let me know that her restaurant Rutabagas was moving from it’s current spot to it’s new home on O St. I was so excited for her and her staff! When I found it was the old Lazzari’s bay and toured it in it’s current condition, it felt like walking back in time! The place was mostly gutted by the time I arrived but the old mural was still in place.

We intentionally designed the "wow" moment of the bar so customers would see that as soon as they walked in. We wanted to incorporate some natural textures because the cuisine focuses on natural foods. So we dropped multiple rattan pendant lights over the bar. We paired this with a bold patterned tile for the bar front so this area would be really eye-catching. We brought Rutabaga’s branding colors of purple and green into the interior because we wanted the interior to be as bright and colorful as their cuisine. We wrapped the exterior walls of the kitchen in purple and made the point of sale green to attract customers and be a natural wayfinding device. Bold colors naturally draw people in. We brightened the walls, ceilings and HVAC with a fresh coat of paint that was light enough to help pull the natural light from the front of the bay all the way back through the space. We also added multiple LED disc lights throughout the ceiling to add to the light and airy vibe we were creating. We also worked closely with the local graphic designer and muralist Cold Hearted Co to create a welcoming mural that featured both Rutabaga’s logo and one of their favorite quotes. We love how it turned out!

We wanted the food to be the star of the show when it came to the tables. So we specified natural wood tabletops with a clear finish so the colorfully plated food would have a nice neutral backdrop to sit on. Then we flanked the tables with white metal chairs to keep things bright. While these chairs look nice, they are also durable and wipeable if food and drinks get spilled on them. We kept the gorgeous exposed brick but painted the half walls and columns that were wrapped in drywall. Then we made the trim lighter than the walls for a little bit of interest. You can also see how nice it is to have the metal HVAC units painted the same color as the ceiling instead of being a dark metal finish. In the photo below you can also see one of the light tubes that was added to the back portion to help bring natural light into the farthest areas of the dining area.

We did not want the dining area to feel like cafeteria with a sea of seating. So we pulled together four tops, two tops, rectangle tables and some circle tables. Our favorite moment is the custom built in bench along the back wall. We drew our designs in CAD and had a local woodworker fabricate and install this bench. Every time I come in to dine at Rutabaga’s, the bench area is always full. Having different seating options and different seating styles gives customers more options so that they can pick a spot that feels most comfortable to them.

All in all, people love Rutabaga’s Vegan Comfort Food and we do too. We feel honored that they selected us as the interior designer to help them transform their space into one that felt authentic to them and their brand. I love visiting this special spot on O street and I hope you do too! The staff keeps the space filled with art from local artists and fresh florals. Plus the food is tasty too! What’s not to love?