Daniel had seen one of our new projects that had recently opened in Chicago an SRG restaurant called Mercat. That prompted him to call to ask if we’d be interested in collaborating with him on a new concept he was planning to open on the Bowery in Manhattan. We next found ourselves getting under the skin of what would become DBGB Kitchen + Bar. Daniel’s POV on a great neighborhood brasserie with a downtown twist included bangers and beer, a late-nite attitude for all of his friends to gather and of course adventures to follow . . .

Graced with Daniel’s unique touch and team, and laced with an interpretive take on an industrial hood, filled with restaurant supply shops and quirky wholesalers, and located just steps from the storied home of CBGB where punk was literally born – we riffed on its industrial grit and hand-crafted an “anti-brand” for DBGB in the spirit of this distinctive place. Bravo to Thomas Schlesser’s interiors that were both true to place and beautifully inventive, including the personally signed copper pots send from Daniel’s Chef friends around the world to stock the shelves. We are sad to see the doors close on the spirited birthplace in NYC but you can now find its new sister in Washington, D.C.

We are grateful to have heeded Daniel’s call and now call him a friend. One of the most generous and kind-hearted people in the business, we know that fun and integrity come on each culinary adventure we take together.

Merci.

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We are excited to share 25 pivotal projects, partnerships and creative moments with you over the next six months. Subscribe to our Newsletter to get monthly updates of our 25 years of projects. Follow us on Instagram to see more behind the scenes at Korn over the last 25 years!

So the phone rings and it’s Bruce Bozzi, fourth generation of the family-owned and beloved Palm Restaurants. Did you know that The Palm was first opened on the East Side of Manhattan in 1921 by Italian immigrants from Parma? The legacy and history behind this storied family of restaurants is palpable. Bruce had called to talk to us about developing a new website for the company. Fast forward to 2010 Korn worked closely with Bruce and his entire team relaunch a complete brand refresh for The Palm Restaurant Group – across 25 restaurants in the U.S. and Mexico, to secure it’s place for generations to come.

We started by talking with Bruce’s father, Bruce Bozzi, Sr. and uncle Wally Ganzi to gain their confidence and permission to help steward their family legacy. We then dug deep, collecting memorabilia from the very early days and interviewing team members with upwards of 30+ years with the company. Our approach was to peel back to the essence of what The Palm stands for, what is core to its loyal following after so many years, and its relevance in today’s market. The result was powerful.

With its enduring legacy in mind, we redrew the original Palm logotype referencing original menus and matchbooks we found on E-Bay. We also created a hand-written typeface, signature to The Palm.

View Project > 

We are excited to share 25 pivotal projects, partnerships and creative moments with you over the next six months. Subscribe to our Newsletter to get monthly updates of our 25 years of projects. Follow us on Instagram to see more behind the scenes at Korn over the last 25 years!

The vision was to reinvent New England’s beloved classic summertime seafood shack, capturing the essence of the quintessential roadside experience and making it available all year round. What’s not to love? We had a lot of fun working with the dream team behind Summer Shack, Patrick Lyons, entertainment + restaurant renegade and Chef Jasper White, acclaimed restaurateur and seafood expert. Now that’s a lobster . . . and it’s not even our favorite thing on the menu!

The “Food Is Love.” phrase was coined early on by Jasper while fleshing out of the concept and familiar – meets – iconic menu. At its core the ultra-casual ambiance of this “seafood shack on steroids” had to have great but simple food made from the heart.

We wanted the entire expression of the Summer Shack brand to follow suit. Intent to capture the mom-and-pop aspect of the seasonal oceanside “seafood shacks” we used hand-lettered throughout, including the primary logo with its iconic red bubble-style lettering and spirited ad campaigns. We also cut and pasted and taped together the menu content, stationery elements, nothing was held precious or allowed to feel computer generated, The result is a timeless visual system that just feels right.

We are excited to share 25 pivotal projects, partnerships and creative moments with you over the next six months. Subscribe to our Newsletter to get monthly updates of our 25 years of projects. Follow us on Instagram to see more behind the scenes at Korn over the last 25 years!

In 1991 Denise Korn had just relocated to Boston and tried to get Dan Mathieu to hire her to train as a pastry chef in his bakery in Boston’s South End. His advice was to stick to her lane and stay true to her passion for design. When Korn hung its shingle in 1992, Dan Mathieu – the wildly creative mind behind so many magical culinary adventures – became one of our first clients and the rest is history.

The ToGo Bakery was one of our very first projects, followed by Hooch & Holly’s in Ogunquit, Maine (1997), FLUX in Boston’s South End (2002) and then the birth of MAX Ultimate Food (2001) that continues to thrive all over New England. Mix in Dan’s incredibly philanthropic dedication to community and Kid’s Can Cook (1997), shined brightly for young chefs across the city.

Every project was very personal for Dan, as are his relationships with each of his team members, clients and partners. His passion for art and making things evolved in parallel with the revolution he has been cooking up at every turn. An avid gardener, woodworker, painter, tinkerer, crafter and visionary, Dan pulls from all around him to find inspiration and ideas for what he’s serving and the environments he creates to surround each experience and inspiring Korn to weave this into each brand’s texture and personality.

Today, nature, artfulness and humanity are at the core of the MAX Ultimate Food chapter. Alongside partner Neal Balkowitsch, since its inception, we can’t wait to see what’s in store at each MAX event!

We are excited to share 25 pivotal projects, partnerships and creative moments with you over the next six months. Subscribe to our Newsletter to get monthly updates of our 25 years of projects. Follow us on Instagram to see more behind the scenes at Korn over the last 25 years!

We are grateful to have set the table, set the stage, and disrupted the culinary scene across the U.S. along side some of the most inspirational and hard working talent we know: foodies with big hearts and bold creativity, a dash of Korn and a lot of fun on the side.

1993 – 2017 – To Go Bakery, Hooch & Holly’s, Kid’s Can Cook, FLUX, MAX ULTIMATE FOOD
Dan Mathieu, the wildly creative mind behind so many magical culinary adventures, has worked with Korn since we first hung our shingle in 1992. The ToGo Bakery was one of our very first projects, followed by Hooch & Holly’s in Ogunquit, Maine (1997), FLUX in Boston’s South End (2002) and then the birth of MAX Ultimate Food (2001) that continues to thrive all over New England. Mix in Dan’s incredibly philanthropic dedication to community and Kid’s Can Cook (1997), shined brightly for young chefs across the city. View Project >

2005 – SUMMER SHACK
The vision was to reinvent New England’s beloved classic summertime seafood shack, capturing the essence of the quintessential roadside experience and making it available all year round. What’s not to love? We had a lot of fun working with the dream team behind Summer Shack, Patrick Lyons, entertainment + restaurant renegade and Chef Jasper White, acclaimed restaurateur and seafood expert. Now that’s a lobster . . . and it’s not even our favorite thing on the menu! View Project >

2010 – The Palm Restaurant Group
So the phone rings and it’s Bruce Bozzi, fourth generation of the family-owned and beloved Palm Restaurants. Did you know that The Palm was first opened on the East Side of Manhattan in 1921 by Italian immigrants from Parma? The legacy and history behind this storied family of restaurants is palpable. Bruce had called to talk to us about developing a new website for the company. Fast forward to 2010 Korn worked closely with Bruce and his entire team relaunch a complete brand refresh for The Palm Restaurant Group – across 25 restaurants in the U.S. and Mexico, to secure it’s place for generations to come. View Project >

2011 – DBGB + Daniel Boulud
Daniel had seen one of our new projects that had recently opened in Chicago an SRG restaurant called Mercat. That prompted him to call to ask if we’d be interested in collaborating with him on a new concept he was planning to open on the Bowery in Manhattan. We next found ourselves getting under the skin of what would become DBGB Kitchen + Bar. Daniel’s POV on a great neighborhood brasserie with a downtown twist included bangers and beer, a late-nite attitude for all of his friends to gather and of course adventures to follow . . . View Project >

We are excited to share 25 pivotal projects, partnerships and creative moments with you over the next six months. Subscribe to our Newsletter to get monthly updates of our 25 years of projects. Follow us on Instagram to see more behind the scenes at Korn over the last 25 years!