Schimenti Construction partnered with Michelin-star restaurant Eleven Madison Park to renovate the former back-of-house mezzanine into the Clemente Bar, an intimate dining space featuring a breakout vegan menu and unique drink selection from its downstairs counterpart. Spanning 3,300 square feet, the renovation focused on creating a high-end, exclusive environment enhanced by nearly every wall featuring custom millwork. Towards the end of the project, the space, named initially “Shojin Bar,” was renamed to honor Francesco Clemente, the artist whose paintings adorn the room.
Working within a live environment presented significant challenges, as the restaurant downstairs remained operational every night. Lunch and dinner service imposed strict noise limits, especially on the weekends. To mitigate disruptions, Schimenti scheduled early workdays, carefully managing noise levels and coordinating around restaurant hours to ensure minimal interference with the ongoing service.
The intricacy of the space included extensive millwork covering nearly every wall, which required detailed craftsmanship to meet the design’s high standards. The client’s daily presence due to the active restaurant below made communication highly involved and immediate. This allowed for live design development, with changes and adjustments made in real-time, ensuring that the final space met the client’s evolving vision for the Clemente Bar. This close collaboration helped navigate potential delays and ensure the project was successfully completed within 20 weeks, creating a truly unique and artistic dining environment.