Thursday, June 19th, 2008...9:42 am
Three Twins - Amazing Organic Ice Cream
Initially, the thought of green ice cream is not appetizing—unless of course by “green,” you mean fully sustainable and organic. Such is the case with the recently opened Three Twins Organic Ice Cream store in Oxbow Public Marketplace in Napa, CA—the only fully organic and sustainable ice cream facility in the region.
Three Twins has 70 certified organic flavors ice cream, uses high-quality and health conscious ingredients and all of the bowls, spoons, cups and napkins in the store are 100% compostable.
To bring the store to life, Group 41 Inc. (www.group41inc.com), a stylish, boutique architecture and design firm based in San Francisco, was assigned to create a “green” and “eco-friendly” design to complement the organic sweets being sold.
Working with the limited, 415 square foot space, Joel Karr, Founder and Principal of Group 41, incorporated not only the retail and display features, but keenly fit in an ice-cream production facility which was compactly designed into the tiny back-of-house space.
Environmentally friendly materials were a must and the message was visually conveyed with a color palette centered on green tonal themes.
Beautiful details such as 3Form “eco-resin” panels were backlit so that they appeared to glow from within and sustainable materials such as bamboo plywood panels were used for the build-out. Vintage 1950s chrome refrigerator doors were used as unique menu boards, conveying not only the nostalgia of ice cream making, but the timely idea of re-use.
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Speaking personally - we have been to their flagship store many (many, many) times and are eager to return almost as soon as we depart. Neal, the founder of Three Twins, is creative and energetic, often creating new and interesting flavor combinations. Some work beautifully, others, like Noodle Kugel, not so much… Regardless, if you are ever in the SF Bay Area (Terra Linda or Napa, in particular), it would behoove you and your family to give this shop a try. It will be hard to pry yourself away!
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