Momotaro

Restaurant & Bar

Chicago

IL USA

Restaurant & Bar

About

Momotaro’s design centers on the post-World War II era in Japan known as the “economic miracle” where traditional Japanese forms and materials merged with Western architecture styles.

During this time, the Japanese “salary man” was a prolific figure in his obsessive tendencies both in his daytime work life as well as his more indulgent evenings in the chaotic back alleys of Japan. Key design elements exemplify this era and the salary man’s obsessive nature, including bathroom walls enveloped in 991,000 individual blue ink pen strokes done by a collaboration of art students, a drinks menu designed to evoke vintage brokerage boards, and massive two-story pendant lighting inspired by the formal qualities of a Sorabon (a device similar to an abacus). A yokocho-style izakaya resides in the subterranean space with layered, vibrant retro graphics and a vintage 1960s pink payphone that plays a random selection of Japanese audio clips from movies, commercials, music, and pink films.

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LOCATION

Chicago

IL USA

Size

11,500 ft² / 1,068 m²

Post-War Era Japan

Economic Miracle

Elements throughout the ground level recall the notion of a mid-century office: teak panels, caning, touches of marble, brass, mid-century style upholstery, as well as details like an office clocks, desk lamps at the bar counter, desk sets, globes and pens. Other elements suggest traditional Japanese aesthetics (with a modern take) : woven ceiling panels, floor pattern, pavilions, secondary post and beam structure and the raw existing structure of the building.

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Sorabon Lighting

The custom light fixtures at the bar were inspired by the Sorabon, a traditional Japanese calculator, similar to an abacus. The graphic back bar is reminiscent of the brokerage board of the Japanese stock market in the 1950s.

Central Sushi Bar

A large globe custom chandelier hangs above the sushi bar furnished with custom barstools reflecting a mid-century style.

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"...refined without being stuffy, polished but not precious."

Surface

Izakaya

The basement bar echoes the Yokocho alley scene: narrow alleys around the central bar, small “vendor’s stalls” divided by wood partition (lounge or high-top tables), dense and layered wooden post and beam structures, overhead fabric panels, patch-work stone flooring, and Japanese joinery details.

A 1960’s vintage public payphone from Japan sits outside the toilets. Pick up the phone and you will hear a random selection of audio clips from sources including: 50’s-60’s Japanese classic action movies, TV commercials, pop music, and Pink Film