L&L Market’s New Wine & Cheese Bar Build-Out Complete
The restaurant Culture + Co. is slated for a soft opening in early December
Dowdle Construction Group announced today the completion of the interior fit-out of new wine and cheese bar Culture + Co. The restaurant is in L&L Market – a 55,000-square-foot retail and restaurant marketplace on Charlotte Pike.
Culture + Co., co-founded by mother-daughter duo Jacqueline Palladino and Ashton Judy, is slated to open in early December. The restaurant will feature small-batch wine, cheese and charcuterie, as well as salads, sandwiches, house-made desserts and a selection of craft beers. The wines served will be organic, biodynamic or sustainably made, and the meats and cheeses will highlight local farms and cheesemakers.
Source: Kathy Thomas Photography
The focal point of the 900-square-foot space is the moving conveyor belt from which customers can choose cheeses and other items as they pass by – the only cheese and charcuterie conveyor belt in the country.
“Choosing wine and cheese pairings from an expansive list can be intimidating, so we wanted a fun way to engage customers and educate them about the foods in front of them,” said Palladino, who will serve as chef. “I love making pastries, and I especially love cheese. I’m excited to collaborate with people in the community to source ingredients.”
Culture + Co. is set up as an open-floor space in the main hallway of the marketplace. In addition to the conveyor belt counter, the space also features artwork from local artists and an old-time movie theater sign above the bar highlighting current collaborations with other local businesses.
L&L Market is an ongoing project for Dowdle, who in 2018 renovated and repurposed the century-old building into what it is now. Since then, the general contractor has helped a number of the tenants — including Bold Patriot Brewing Co., Happily Grey, Collective 615, CycleBar, Alchemist Salon and Daphne Home — build out their individual spaces within the development.
“I was involved in these build-outs as well as the original building conversion, and it’s been great being part of the whole process from start to finish. The development as a whole turned out really well, especially from where it started,” said Dowdle Construction Group project manager Chris Curley. “I think Culture + Co, with its open-space setup and unique design, will be a popular addition to the lineup of specialty vendors.”
Other vendors at L&L include Five Daughters Bakery, Living with Landyn, Thai Ni Yom, Honest Coffee Roasters, Made in TN, Bend and Zen Hot Yoga and more.
“As soon as we saw L&L, we knew it was the right spot for us,” said Judy. “We watched it transform from a run-down restaurant supply store to a great place to eat and shop. We love the neighborhood, the community and the other vendors, many of which are also women-owned businesses. It’s a beautiful space!”