Boloco

Redefining the burrito? Why not redefine the quick-serve restaurant experience as well?

Boston-based Boloco redefined the burrito with global flavor combinations. In preparation for nationwide expansion, they challenged Bergmeyer to design a new prototype that reflected the company’s core values and established a “vibe” in each local community.

The interior design strategy for the restaurant relied on rich saturated color and off-beat graphics to reinforce Boloco’s animated character and the global influences evident in the cuisine. With a large open kitchen as its backdrop, the store balanced visual openness with the creation of a variety of cozier spaces. And as Boloco believes in using its restaurants to make the planet a better place, sustainable materials, some of which you can see such as LED lighting, reclaimed wood, and low-flow plumbing fixtures, and some of which you can’t, such as high-efficiency tankless water heaters and low-VOC paints and adhesives — were used throughout the space.

But the design team didn’t stop there. Understanding Boloco had a tech-savvy customer base, the team leveraged technology to enhance the in-store experience and redefine the quick-serve format itself.

Recognizing that one size does not fit all, the kit-of-parts design enabled “regulars” to skip the queue-to-order process via the Boloco app or to expedite the process at in-store decision-assistance kiosks, giving customers complete control of HOW they order.

As Boloco is a recognized innovator in the use of social media, free Wi-Fi and USB outlets at nearly every seat invite customers to tweet in store. A three-panel LCD displays an ever-changing variety of content, including a live Twitter feed and “Boloco TV,” which highlights the company’s philosophy, history, and local community involvement — a call to action for their loyal customers.

Awards

• EHI EuroShop Retail Design Award Finalist

• HUB Magazine: HUB Prize Gold Medal