KNEADS WINS ICSC GOLD AWARD FOR GLOBAL DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT

Ci Design, Inc. is excited to announce that Kneads Bakeshop & Cafe in Baltimore, Maryland was awarded an International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) Global Design & Development Gold Award! This award honors the premier design and development of Kneads, a venture of the H&S Family of Bakeries, as an outstanding tenant in a retail environment on an international scale.

Ci, an award-winning architecture firm, provided architecture, planning and interior design services to transform an existing 17,000-square-foot office building and data center into a bustling, vibrant and immersive culinary experience. The project seats 150 customers and features a market showcasing products from local businesses, an upscale restaurant, an industrial bakery focused on artisan-quality products, and future event space for the community.

Contrary to the design of a typical café, which clearly separates the front and back of house programs, Kneads creates an impressive and immersive experience where food-making is treated as an art form and performance. A 7,400-square-foot commercial "bakeshop" set apart by glass walls allows visitors to see the baking going on inside.

Each detail in the design celebrates a particular aspect of the project: the art of baking, the client’s family, and the site location, among others. Implementing these concepts creates a project that not only reflects the owner’s vision for their business and growth but, most importantly, allows each guest to feel they are part of this company’s local family.

Headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, the H&S Family of Bakeries operates as an integrated network of 10 bakeries, 30 distribution centers, and strategic partners spanning operations along the Eastern seaboard and beyond. As a family-owned and privately held company, H&S has the operational flexibility to meet the demand peaks during different seasons and promotions.

The former Fells Point Outlet overhaul provides H&S with an improved storefront in a prime location. Kneads Bakeshop & Café brings the company into the future by merging upscale dining and socializing trends favored by the next generation with their family’s background: the art of bread-making. 

The industrial bakery includes a bread line that can produce up to 100,000 baguettes per week and other baked goods. The bakery is now able to supply bread to 100 wholesale clients, including many upscale restaurants, hotels and grocery stores. In response to the bakeshop's popularity, Kneads added a full-service dinner menu alongside brunch and lunch, extending its hours from 7 AM to 3 PM to 7 AM to 7 PM to accommodate a growing customer base.

With the success of this flagship location, the Kneads team has plans for a new eatery in Chevy Chase and a concourse spot at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, according to the Baltimore Business Journal. The upscale bakery opened smaller shops in Canton and North Baltimore in the past year, thanks to its growing success in its Harbor East location.

Read more about Kneads Bakeshop & Cafe in our winning ICSC Global Design & Development Awards submission here!