Renovating a shop is a big task, but has proved rewarding. After 9.5 years, at the end of December 2020, we closed our location in Via Garibaldi. It was a difficult decision, but the time seemed right to move in a new direction. Fortunately, we were able to procure a loan, which made it possible to purchase a shop and create a permanent location for Federico Badia, a longtime dream. After, exploring various possibilities, we decided to buy and remodel a Kabab shop on Corso Cavour. The space needed a lot of work to fit our business, but met our budget and size specifications, so we decided to make the change.
This is Federico just after we signed the final contract and became shop owners.
The process was a bit of a rollercoaster and took longer than we expected–we signed the initial contract mid-December 2020, the final purchase agreement on April 30th, and managed to reopen after two busy months of remodeling on June 30th. We still have finishing work to do, but we enjoy being open to the public again and love the new space.
Below are a few snapshots of the demolition process, which involved lots of chisels, hammers, dust, and rubble. It took quite a bit of work to strip the space down, so that we could begin rebuilding.
Demolishing the previous lighting system Creating a new channel for wiring Removing old tile, grout, and plaster The front room of the shop mid-demolition
With the generous help of a few friends, we began then began the process of remodeling. We learned a great deal about construction techniques along the way, including the art of plastering. We made several unexpected and rewarding discoveries along the way, including uncovering and restoring the palazzo’s original wood beamed ceiling.
Plastering the walls The new floor going down Preparing to install the new back door Removing the drop ceiling to expose the original wood beams Removing a portion of wall to create accessible storage
After the major work of demolition and structural remodeling was completed, we did some decorating to update the shop’s spirit for a new location. Hannah especially enjoyed this portion of the work and hopes to complete some of the final details this winter.
Painting the red accent walls Preparing to a structure for the lasts Modifying our old display cases to fit the new space
While there are still many things that need finishing, we have come a long way in making the new space into a special, unique, and welcoming home for our work. Here are a few side by side photos, which really capture the evolution of the space. Thanks so much for following along with our journey!
