Where Commerce Meets Craft, and Memory Shapes Form

What if a retail store could become a space of shared authorship?

Commissioned by an international retailer, HINESAD reimagined this storefront in Georgetown—not simply as a point of sale, but as a platform for cultural exchange, craft, and community memory. Rooted in the neighborhood’s legacy of African American resilience and brick architecture, the concept invites residents to take part in the renovation process—laying bricks by hand, much like the churches and homes that define the area’s historic fabric.

Inside, the ground floor seamlessly merges retail and rotating exhibitions by local artists, turning commerce into an act of cultural engagement. A geometric brick feature wall anchors the space, while a curved central display island subtly bends toward historic neighborhood landmarks—transforming orientation into narrative. The upper level houses flexible meeting and gathering rooms for the community, reinforcing the building’s role as a civic connector.

This is not just a store. It’s a civic space woven into the language of retail—where art, memory, and everyday life converge in a space built to serve and reflect the community it inhabits.