Mezcal

Located in the downtown Historic District of Spartanburg, Mezcal is an upscale restaurant anchoring the renovation of an entire urban block along Main Street. McMillan Pazdan Smith completed the historic renovation and interiors of the project as well as five apartments on the upper floors.

To create a more historically accurate facade, the front of the building was removed and redesigned based on original photos of the building. An old bank vault was transformed into the food storage room. Throughout the demolition process, the team salvaged as many of the original materials as possible, including the wood floors, trim, tile, and the majority of the apartment doors. These details all contribute to the blending of both a historic Southern and modern Mexican aesthetics.

As a restaurant upfit within a historic renovation, the project also offered significant challenges. Because the space had no adjacent roof access or backdoor, the vent had to be installed and hidden in a storefront system. To conserve room, the HVAC system was suspended in the actual restaurant space, and additional platforms within the first floor to store the equipment above the kitchen.

The design team also had to consider historic renovation codes and the structural reinforcement those required. The original building had a small door and a long wall down the middle of what is now restaurant space. Although the wall was retained for structural purposes, two large openings now create significant connections between the sides, while still keeping the bar and restaurant environments separate.