Best Original Design Winner: Kum & Go
Best Original Design
Winner: Kum & Go LC, Johnston, Iowa
Designer: CBX & BRR Architecture
The debut location of Kum & Go's new Marketplace store prototype boasts a brand-centric, stylish design with upscale features that benefit customers and store associates alike.
Designed to be a physical representation of Kum & Go's brand promise, "Where & Means More," ampersands appear as surprising accents throughout the Johnston, Iowa, store. This includes on door handles, hanging from the open kitchen ceiling, and even an 8-foot-tall ampersand sculpture outside the store that is a "love letter" to the city of Johnston.
Foodservice was a major focus during the design process. The expanded, open food preparation area is the centerpiece of the 6,200-square-foot store and captures guests’ attention from the moment they step inside. Customers can enjoy an elevated food experience with Kum & Go's Go Fresh Market, which features new salads, made-to-order sandwiches, pastries, pizza and more. Associates face customers while preparing food in the clearly visible workspace, and a personal touch is added when they serve pizza directly to customers.
The store also has built-in open coolers and warmers, along with a roller grill that is recessed into the countertop, to decrease visual clutter. Beer aficionados can visit both the 300-square-foot beer cave, and the Growler Station that features fresh beer on tap.
With Marketplace, Kum & Go also makes a point of offering customers more than they expect from a convenience store in the form of: freshly baked bread; indoor and outdoor seating; complimentary Wi-Fi and charging stations; and an express checkout for peak times.
