Pragmatism and Innovation

As Executive Director of Store Development at Whole Foods Market Adam Smith opened over 50 innovative, brand-defining stores in the US, Canada, and the UK. He led real estate, design, and construction teams through a period of exponential growth in one of the most complex markets in the U.S. 

Adam understands that more often than not, design constraints are opportunities for innovative solutions.

Coffee Bar and Roasting Facility

Whole Foods Market Berkeley, CA

This coffee bar and roasting facility was the result of a complex planning and zoning process with the city of Berkeley. The site combined two separate buildings which shared a common wall. The smaller building where the coffee bar now exists was zoned for Mixed Use/Light Industrial and the larger building was zoned for retail. Adam was able to utilize a section of the zoning that allowed a percentage of the Industrial use for retail of that product- in this case, by roasting coffee on site, allowed the retail coffee bar to be removed from the “retail” side of the building, maximizing the grocery sales floor. Photo: Phil Bond

Cafe Seating and Millwork

Glulam gets a second life

Installation of a refrigeration system in the mezzanine space above the sales floor required removal of a 60’ long Glulam beam. (structural element) These glued and laminated wood beams are beautiful and no longer used for construction, so Adam sent this to his Millwork shop to be used to make the counters, benches, and stools for the coffee bar. Additional reclaimed live edged oak used for the bench back. Photo: Phil Bond

Sonoma County Tap Room

First ever Bar at Whole Foods Market

With a large space to fill immediately after the 2008 market crash, Adam saw an opportunity to highlight local craft brewers and developed the concept for a Tap Room within a store and built a “shed” within the store from salvaged white oak. Photo: David Wakely

San Jose Production Brewery

taking Success a step further

Building on the popularity of Northern California craft beer and the success of the first Tap Room at Whole Foods Market, Adam again found an underutilized space to build a full production brewery to supply the Tap Room at “The Alameda” with freshly brewed beer as well as other Whole Foods Market locations. Photo: Phil Bond

Sonoma County Tap Room

First ever Bar at Whole Foods Market

In an effort to make the space feel entirely separate from the grocery store, Adam worked with a separate design team and millwork fabricators specializing in reclaimed materials to design and build the space. Photo: David Wakely

Sky Bar

Roof top Seating across from SAp center

Located on a sharp intersection across from “The Shark Tank” The brewery features roof-top dining and outdoor seating within walking distance of SAP Center. Photo: Phil Bond