TERMINAL COMMONS

Creative & Operations Consultant | Designer

Design Responsibilities:

• Enforced and implemented brand standards

• Managed menu development and revisions

• Designed print materials, including print and digital advertisements, promotional posters, manuals, and training materials

• Orchestrated photography, styling, and coordinated photoshoots

• Oversaw signage design

• Initiated initial social media management and marketing strategies

• Led project management initiatives

• Directed interior design, including furniture, fixtures, finishes, and custom artwork

Business Responsibilities:

• Drove new business development efforts

• Oversaw layout and equipment design

• Managed licensing and permits acquisition

• Handled budgeting, financial management, and cash flow

• Managed ordering and inventory

• Oversaw staffing, onboarding, training, and staff development, supervising 1-2 managers and approximately 15 hourly staff members

• Provided daily operations oversight

Creating a Gathering Place:

In 2017, I joined the Terminal Commons Operations team and embarked on a transformative journey with the Wheeler Neighborhood Development Team to Copenhagen. This expedition served as pivotal research for conceptualizing the Gathering Place. Our objective was to establish a neighborhood hub that fostered inclusivity and served as a welcoming gateway to the community for visitors.

Preserving the historical significance of the airpark café and former airport terminal, one of two existing buildings in the development, was paramount. With aspirations aplenty and limited space within the roughly 3000 square foot building, we endeavored to create a space that resonated with the community, offering a sense of purpose and unity.

The central hub was envisioned as a multifunctional space, housing the neighborhood's mail services, facilitating social interactions over coffee, and providing a playground for families to convene. With a limited bar serving wine, cocktails, and a menu featuring shareable pizzas and café fare, we aimed to curate an environment conducive to natural, spontaneous, and walkable experiences.

Despite meticulous planning, the grand opening of Terminal Commons, scheduled for April 2020, was thwarted by the onset of the pandemic, which shuttered restaurants nationwide. In response, we pivoted to a takeout-only model in May 2020, later transitioning to masked service when restrictions eased.

The unanticipated challenges posed by the pandemic, including limited foot traffic and eligibility issues for relief funds, proved insurmountable. Despite our best efforts in marketing and social media outreach, Terminal Commons ceased operations in late 2021. The space was subsequently reimagined as Taco Nation, which opened its doors in 2022.

Key Partners:

Nominee Design

FradyCat Signs

Sully Muralist