Cafe Deluxe in Gaithersburg, Maryland’s Washingtonian Center opened last November to an eager clientele. The new Gaithersburg location features a large indoor/outdoor bar, a lakefront patio for 100 diners, and more doors and windows than any of the other properties. Kolbe provided Café Deluxe’s numerous swinging doors, fixed doors, inswing casements and a 15-foot-wide folding window.

“Café Deluxe is a well-established D.C. area restaurant brand. The restaurant design conveys the signature mahogany wood and warm bistro style interior,” explains Clare Marino, an associate at GTM Architects Inc.

Owned by Clover Investments LLC, Café Deluxe in Gaithersburg is the fourth addition to the family of European-inspired bistro concept restaurants. Total construction costs for this location are estimated at $2.4 million. The restaurant encompasses approximately 6,800 square feet.

“The new Gaithersburg location features light-filled interior spaces with views of the Washingtonian Center boardwalk,” Marino elaborates. “Folding windows open up the interior bar to the patio and several French doors connect the main dining room to the outdoor dining. In the interior, dining rooms are divided by a series of operable windows and doors, which offer open areas, private and semi-private dining.”

Before Café Deluxe opened in Gaithersburg, the existing space was remodeled completely. Involved throughout the project’s design and construction, Marino worked closely with Tony DePaul, vice president of construction for Building Resources, Inc. For their window and door partner, Marino says, “We were looking for a quality solid wood product and really good customer service. Kolbe was recommended as we have worked with them on other, projects in the region.”

Tom Lorber, Shenandoah Sash and Door‘s architectural representative met with the project team and presented Kolbe’s breadth of products. Together, they selected Kolbe’s windows and doors in Douglas Fir with a dark stained mahogany finish and traditional styling in a variety of sizes, configurations and glass types.

“Kolbe’s windows and doors provided a beautiful custom appearance with many standard products. We received excellent customer service and design assistance from Tom Lorber,” praises Marino. “The design team and owners were an integral part of the design process with Kolbe’s architectural sales and design team to ensure that the details and product functions met the owner’s budget and design goals.”

These product specifications were decided early in the project’s design as the construction timeline allowed just three months for substantial completion. “We were awarded the project in July and the space needed to be weathertight by October to finish the interior construction by November,” notes DePaul. “We couldn’t wait for the openings to be made on site before ordering the windows and doors. We carefully reviewed the documents and confirmed the measurements.”

DePaul continues, “Kolbe and Shenandoah handled everything very well – from engineering to fabricating to delivery. It was a painless operation for such a tight schedule. The quality of Kolbe’s windows and doors is excellent. It looks exceptional.”

Marino agrees and adds, “I look forward to our next project together.”

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Café Deluxe, Washingtonian Center, RIO Entertainment Center, 9811 Washingtonian Blvd., Gaithersburg, Maryland 20878
* Owner: Clover Investments LLC; Washington, D.C.
* Architect: GTM Architects Inc.; Bethesda, Md.
* Construction manager: Building Resources, Inc.; Rockville, Md.
* Window distributor: Shenandoah Sash and Door; Purcellville, Va.
* Window manufacturer: Kolbe & Kolbe Millwork Co., Inc.; Wausau, Wis.
* Photos by Kenneth M. Wyner Photography, Inc.

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