Caffe’ Opera & Bakery

Monrovia, CA

In historic Old Town Monrovia, the transformation of a hundred-year-old brick building into a 4400 sf restaurant and full-service bakery provided some challenges to GBE. Because the building is located in a historic preservation and redevelopment sector, the building envelope could not change. But the restaurant and bakery needed all of the modern conveniences, including two full kitchens. To that end, GBE located air handling units and vents on the roof, where they could be hidden by the roofline. Due to its historic designation, the site was exempt from Title 24 building codes, so interior walls were accessible for wiring, plumbing and HVAC upgrades. All in all, it was a tasty project.