Locus Architecture partnered with Chowgirls Catering, one of Minneapolis’s most celebrated woman owned catering companies, to reimagine an industrial building in Northeast Minneapolis as a space that fully reflects their brand. Known for vibrant flavors, inventive cuisine, and joyful hospitality, owners Heidi Andermatt and Amy Brown sought a facility that could support high volume catering operations while expressing the warmth and energy that define Chowgirls.
Before selecting their current site, Locus worked closely with the Chowgirls team to evaluate several adaptive reuse opportunities across the city. The chosen building, a utilitarian metal structure on an industrial site, had previously housed another caterer but lacked the visibility, character, and sense of welcome that Chowgirls envisioned.

The design approach focused on bold transformation. Responding to the owners’ request for a strong sense of arrival, Locus introduced a new entry sequence and reworked the building enclosure to open the interior to daylight and views. Generous openings connect kitchen, office, and production spaces while signaling activity and openness from the street.
Inside, the architecture balances the demands of a high performance commercial kitchen with moments of delight and creativity. Color, material, and transparency reinforce Chowgirls’ ethos of thoughtful, inclusive, and fun food. The result transforms an anonymous industrial shell into a brand forward workplace that supports collaboration, creativity, and the behind the scenes work of unforgettable events.