The Bronx Street Recreating childhood memories When our client decided to move from South Florida to Charlotte in 2009, one of the most exciting aspects of designing a new home was the prospect of having a basement. Years earlier they had toyed with the idea of someday designing a super basement. So once the move was on, the ideas started flowing. The wish list of activities and play spaces continued to grow and soon evolved into a street concept where each space would occupy its own storefront on a street. Our client sketched out a 4,500 square foot layout, then had an architect design the rest of the house around the footprint of the future basement. Four years after our client moved in, we began construction on the build-out that would become The Bronx Street. It is a melting pot of memories, interests, and favorite hang-outs. But most of all, this basement represents the love of fun, laughter, creativity and togetherness shared by family and friends.
The Setting: Back in 2009, our client began sketching out storefront ideas to bring the concept to life. The overall setting is loosely based on a neighborhood in the Bronx where his grandparents settled after emigrating from Italy, and where he grew up. Our client set the time period circa 1965 the ultimate age of innocence, as he calls it. Taking a cue from Walt Disney, the family strived to create a storytelling experience where the setting and details around you create an immersive environment that takes you to another place and time, and tells you a bit about the family who created it. Actual Sketches from our client The first decision was what to include on the street. The store fronts and entertainment areas they developed included: Arnold s Toyland The Arcade Sam s Soda Shop The Bronx Italian-American Club The Egyptian Theater Campano Brothers Grocery Store Casella Arms Apartments McDougal s House of Horrors The Cavern Club
Arnold s Toyland-Our client s favorite toy store from the 60s where he bought his GI Joe and monster toys. The display windows provide a practical setting to exhibit the client s collection of 60s toys and games. This store is a façade. Nothing past what you can see. Finished Product Actual Sketch from our client
The Arcade-An Americana-themed Coney Island shooting gallery and pinball parlor. The Arcade is a fully functional penny arcade with a pellet-gun shooting gallery, pinball machines, and vintage circus memorabilia our client has collected.
Sam s Soda Shop-A recreation of the original Sam s Soda Shop & Candy Store on 203rd Street and Valentine Avenue, around the corner from our client s house in the Bronx. It s where he drank his first egg cream and purchased his first comic book and Famous Monsters of Filmland magazine in 1965. Actual Sketch from our client Sam s Soda Shop has everything you need to take a step back in time. The space includes a fully functional kitchen and soda fountain.
Campano Brothers-A salute to our client s great-uncles, who owned two small Italian grocery stores near his house in the Bronx. This store is a false front. Original conceptual drawing from homeowner
Casella Arms Apartments-Another family tribute, this time to our client s grandparents, who rose from humble immigrant backgrounds to purchase two apartment houses in the upper Bronx. The stairwell beside the foyer displays numerous photographs of the family in their Bronx neighborhood in the 40s and 50s. An example of the attention to detail includes a vintage apartment mailbox with residents mail visible behind the glass window in each box.
The Bronx Italian-American Club & Café-To honor our client s grandparents and parents generation of four sisters and a brother who instilled strong Italian family values in the family since the mid- 50s.
The Egyptian-One of two spaces that depart a bit from the New York setting, the 3D home theater is based on Grauman s Egyptian Theater, one of Hollywood s original movie palaces opened in 1922. The theater reflects the family s love of both motion pictures and ancient world history. Original conceptual drawings from homeowner Lobby Entrance Lobby of The Egyptian Before After
McDougal s House of Horrors-A nod to the family s love of classic monster films through a mid- 60s wax museum/chamber of horrors. It s a showcase for the life-size figures created by our client s son and daughterin-law, along with a display of vintage monster memorabilia. The name comes from a wax museum in one of the homeowners favorite movies, Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein(1948).
The Cavern Club -The second space that departs from a New York vibe takes us to Liverpool, England and the birthplace of our client s favorite band, the Beatles. Based on the famous underground cellar where they first found an audience, the room works as a pub, a game room, and a musicians jam session space.
The Bronx Street Project Before After Day or night can be simulated in this Disney-like experience. The attention to details and our client s clear vison made this project a success.