On behalf of Meril Restaurant, we want you to know how pleased we are with the work completed at Meril. Gibbs team's willingness to help achieve the goals of our project on budget and on schedule was apparent throughout the job. Gibbs brought knowledge, experience, and a proven track record to our construction project. We are appreciative of the great work and look forward to working with your team again in the future. 
Eric Linquest, COO - Meril & EJ LA, LLC
Meril Restaurant, a Chef Emeril Lagasse’s concept, found its home in a century old Girod Street Warehouse District structure.
In accordance with the Historic District Landmarks Commission, Meril preserved the original façade and incorporated the minimal exterior additions of new signage, lighting and awnings emphasizing the entrance of the new 167-seat restaurant.
Prior to the commencement of construction, massive hand-painted murals were commissioned to create a focal point on the interior brick walls, requiring Gibbs to protect the integrity of the artwork throughout the duration of construction.
This adaptive reuse interior buildout of a one-story shell space received a complete infrastructure makeover of its mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems. The small footprint of this restaurant dictated an unconventional amount of heavy kitchen equipment located in such tight quarters, including six vented range hoods, a wood-fired pizza oven, commercial-grade deep fryers, grills and griddles and three walk-in coolers. Also, this area incurred an unforeseen code change which altered the grease trap requiring Gibbs to work overtime, utilizing multiple shifts and weekend work, in order to maintain the construction schedule.
Meril’s interior, marked by Emeril’s signature open-style kitchen, located adjacent to the three dining rooms, boasts sophisticated three-tiered tray ceilings with recessed lighting which called for specialty decorative drywall work. Additionally, to complete this industrial look, high-end finishes were installed throughout. One of the six species of wood that can be found in this space includes the owner-supplied mesquite crosscut wood floors. This unique element required meticulous craftsmanship to install individual 3”x4” pieces of brittle wood, making the finished floor resemble an end grain butcher block. The prefabricated concrete countertops of the U-shaped bar complete the visual flavor of this spirited dining experience.
This Emeril eatery became the first establishment on this historic urban corner of Girod and Magazine Street beginning the transformation of this block into a local bustling beacon of nightlife. Gibbs has since had the opportunity to further develop this thriving neighborhood which included the construction of the new Kalorama Condominiums, the historically renovated 640 Magazine Street Apartments and the new 618 Magazine Street parking garage.
Project Facts
Type
Renovation
Budget
$2.3M
Size
7,000 sf
Owner
425 Notre Dame LLC
Architect
Rozas Ward Architects
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