rockwell group designs library-like murray's cheese shop & cheese bar in long island

a staple in greenwich village, murray’s cheese shop and cheese bar has now opened its first outpost outside manhattan in long island city. designed by rockwell group, the project takes cues from the client’s state-of-the-art cheese caves facility as well as laboratory. side-by-side, the restaurant offers an intimate space to serve diners whilst the produce can be bought to take away in the adjoining library-like retail store.

all images © emily andrews

rockwell group created the retail space of murray’s cheese shop & cheese bar, long island city, as if a library. a refrigerated shelving system of black, copper and terracotta colors – a nod to the vats and molds used to create the produce – displays the different cheeses for sale. black and white tiles accent the terrazzo-topped counter whilst there is also a mobile artisan stall for displays and demos. this all sits atop a polished concrete floor that provides a neutral backdrop to draw the customer’s eyes to the shelves.

as a common thread seen across the two spaces, pendant lamps inspired by the organic drape of cheesecloth warmly illuminate the restaurant. here, the color palette is bolder, deeper and much more vibrant than in the shop. purples, greens and browns allude to the changes in the produce as it matures. the back bar features the custom shelving system to mimic the cave storage where the cheese is aged. made from metal and wood, the dropped ceiling mirrors the shelving to make for a more intimate environment. it is suspended above the bold, green-tiled bar with oak tambour and copper accents.

project info:

designer: rockwell group

store: murray’s cheese shop & cheese bar

location: 28-30 jackson avenue, long island city, queens, NY

capacity: 8 seats (retail) 48 seats (restaurant)