When Sketchworks Architecture was tapped to design The Kickback, a 2,000-square-foot bar and restaurant in The Aviary at Middleton Market, all their staff had to do was travel two blocks over from their downtown Middleton office.

The Aviary, a mixed-use residential development with apartments and a commercial marketplace, houses the much-hyped Middleton Market Food Hall. The Kickback is the first finished commercial space in the marketplace, which encompasses 5,600 total square feet, not including outdoor patios. Sketchworks designed the marketplace’s common areas (exits, restrooms) as well as The Kickback. Eventually, additional vendors will occupy the marketplace.

“The [marketplace] is inspired by European indoor markets where there are multiple food and drink vendors and gathering areas to socialize with friends,” explains Sketchworks interior designer Brittany Erskine, who worked on the design of The Kickback.

According to The Middleton Market Food Hall’s website, The Kickback has a “family-friendly environment” with a full bar, outdoor seating, and yard games. The business opened on September 6.

The open, airy design employs both warm and cool tones. High ceilings allow for copious natural light to spill in through handsome, black-framed windows. A few garage doors open the space to the outdoors, allowing patrons direct access to an outdoor patio. A mix of materials (concrete, wood, and tile) employ texture to give the space design dazzle.

Brittany notes the “overall design is industrial with rustic and modern elements.” The open ceiling is punctuated with large, dark fans and modern circle LED lights. The poured epoxy floor is intended to “look like spilled coffee.”

For contrast, Brittany incorporated teal tones in the bar’s tiled front and used the same teal tiles in the restrooms as well. The bar is defined by a wood ceiling element above it, as well as with a linear wood accent wall behind the workstation.

To save space, Sketchworks partner Steve Shulfer notes that the bar’s storage and coolers are located in the development’s underground parking level, and goods are brought up by the dumbwaiter from below.

Cardinal Capital Development executed The Aviary, which along with housing the Middleton Market Food Hall, has studio and one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments along with a workout room, pet spa, movie theater, game room, co-working areas, and an outdoor courtyard. Steve notes that Cardinal Capital Development “has brought a lot of housing and vibrancy to a former spot that was a bit industrial in the city.”

The Kickback is just the first step to continue attracting more tenants to the marketplace. “[The owners] are eager to get this bar and marketplace occupied to realize the vision of community gathering and amenities to The Aviary residents, as well as the neighborhood,” says Steve. “We are looking forward to seeing the marketplace being completely finished. The bar is an important first step to generate excitement and will be the catalyst for future vendors to come.”

Photographs by Chad Renly of Branded Exposure LLC.

Sketchworks Architecture

2501 Parmenter Street
Suite 300A
Middleton, WI 53562
608.836.7570
sketchworksarch.com