YongChuan
upscale casual fine dining remodel
YongChuan is an upscale Chinese restaurant carved from the shell of a former fast-casual eatery in the heart of the Lower East Side. TXLabs led the full transformation—from spatial redesign to brand identity and marketing strategy.
Transforming a bright, casual dim sum chain into a refined dining space required a complete shift in tone—without major demolition. The existing wood panels, ceiling grid, and brick walls had to be preserved and reimagined to suit a more intimate, elevated atmosphere.
By working through surface interventions—staining, repainting, and refinishing—we redefined the space through restraint. Darker tones, metallic accents, and controlled lighting brought coherence and depth while retaining traces of the original structure beneath.
YongChuan now embodies a quiet transformation—layered, atmospheric, and culturally resonant. Featured in Eater, Grub Street, and The New York Times, the project reframes inherited architecture into a backdrop for thoughtful dining rooted in Ningbo and Szechuan cuisine.
Transforming a bright, casual dim sum chain into a refined dining space required a complete shift in tone—without major demolition. The existing wood panels, ceiling grid, and brick walls had to be preserved and reimagined to suit a more intimate, elevated atmosphere.
By working through surface interventions—staining, repainting, and refinishing—we redefined the space through restraint. Darker tones, metallic accents, and controlled lighting brought coherence and depth while retaining traces of the original structure beneath.
YongChuan now embodies a quiet transformation—layered, atmospheric, and culturally resonant. Featured in Eater, Grub Street, and The New York Times, the project reframes inherited architecture into a backdrop for thoughtful dining rooted in Ningbo and Szechuan cuisine.