Indie Suprette Market and Cafe

Located within San Francisco’s Marina District is the newly renovated, 682-square-foot Indie Superette market at 3060 Fillmore Street. Designed by award-winning architecture and design firm MBH Architects, this health-focused market and cafe takes cues from its Honolulu, Hawaii, counterpart, yet displays its own locale’s unique sense of playfulness and energy. Indie Superette is one part of the redevelopment of the Real Foods market located at 3060 Fillmore, which closed in 2016. In addition to Indie Superette, MBH Architects assisted with exterior refinishing to the local landmark.

Developed by restaurateur Michael Mina, Indie Superette offers specialty wellness-focused grocery items, a coffee counter, and grab-and-go options like acai bowls, smoothies, kombucha, and salads. When approaching the refresh, MBH Architects sought inspiration from Indie Superette’s first market in Honolulu for a lively tropical theme. Through the blending of both designs, the design team was able to craft a tropical California aesthetic throughout the space, utilizing a teal and pastel pink color scheme with natural woods and ample greenery.

Upon entering Indie Superette, guests are welcomed into the market’s covered outdoor patio, which is raised from the street level and features small tables for customers and fresh fruit stands. Through the entrance, the open-concept market comes into full view—to the left, guests can find refrigerators and metal dry storage racks of health-conscious food options. Further into the space, the LAMILLl Coffee counter features a sleek, white Meganite countertop and natural, light wood finishes. Digital display menus line the back and sides of the counter’s custom white and teal geometric tile wall. The service counter is topped with a drop-down soffit that is outfitted with lush planters, while handmade, pressed birch wood pendant lights provide soft illumination. Hidden recessed lighting also assists in brightening the counter and the rest of the market. The eatery’s juice and acai bowl counter, located adjacent to the LAMILL Coffee counter, shares the fresh and inviting color palette found throughout the space.

MBH Architects worked diligently to maximize the small footprint of the market, ensuring locals had access to a full-service, one-stop-shop grocery store, coffee counter, smoothie, juice, and acai bar. While ensuring each zone of the market had its own unique space, the design team was also challenged with incorporating the equipment required to make hot foods—consequently, a full back-of-house space is included in the market’s design. Through open and consistent communication with their client, MBH Architects was able to complete a refreshing space for Indie Superette, providing salubrious foods and groceries to the ever growing Marina District.

Design: MBH Architects
Design Team: Elaine Leong, Celso Rivera, Brenda Delgado Barajas, George Kolesnikov,  Irene Liora
Photography: courtesy of MBH Architects