Sunrose
Redefining daytime dining with a stylish California eatery:
Sunrose California Eatery is an upscale breakfast, brunch, lunch, bar, market, and event space located in Agoura Hills, California. Founded by husband-and-wife team Carie and Marc Hernandez, the concept was built around a clear opportunity in the market: to create a stylish daytime dining experience that combined classic California warmth, modern hospitality, elevated food, and weekend energy every day of the week.
Sunrose came to Stewart Design in the earliest stages of development, before the restaurant had a name, identity, location, or fully defined brand story. The founders had a strong vision and more than 50 years of combined hospitality experience, but they needed a compelling brand foundation that could help bring the concept to life, attract landlords and stakeholders, build a leadership team, and position the business for a successful launch.
Stewart Design helped shape Sunrose from concept to launch through naming, brand strategy, messaging, visual identity, menu design, merchandise, advertising, email marketing, art direction, and ongoing brand management. We developed the name Sunrose California Eatery, created the tagline Weekend Vibes All Week Long, and built a brand system that balanced mid-century California nostalgia with a fresh, modern, and elevated dining experience.
The result was a distinctive and highly marketable restaurant brand that helped Sunrose secure a property, assemble key leadership within 120 days, and launch as a standout neighborhood destination. In its first two years, Sunrose generated more than $6 million in revenue, built strong customer loyalty, earned hundreds of five-star reviews, and developed a highly engaged digital audience with newsletter open rates above 50 percent.
External Credits
Architecture: James Khel Architects
Photography: Calvin Khurniawan, James Khel Architects
Collaborating closely with the husband and wife duo Carie and Marc, Stewart Design executed a comprehensive strategy, encompassing naming, logo design, brand identity, messaging, pitch deck, merchandise, menu designs, advertising campaigns, email marketing, art direction, and consultation throughout the launch. This immersive venture included clarity workshops where we delved deep into Sunrose's essence, purpose, target audience, and competitive advantages. Additionally, a site visit provided key insights into Sunrose's competitive landscape, physical space, and unique positioning. Through this iterative refinement, the concepts evolved to capture Sunrose's vision, story, and aesthetic with authentic charm.
Our collaboration culminated in the birth of the name 'Sunrose California Eatery,' which encapsulates the warmth of California's sunny vibes with modern elegance. The brand messaging, anchored by the tagline 'Weekend Vibes All Week Long,' radiates positivity and relaxation. Additionally, a carefully curated brand pitch deck, infused with the venture's spirit, became pivotal in conveying Sunrose's unique value proposition to stakeholders.
The Sunrose brand identity strikes an artful balance between nostalgia and modernity. Drawing inspiration from the geometric forms of California's iconic Mid-Century era, the Sunrose logotype features an accented 'O,' symbolizing a rising sun to capture the essence of the daytime eatery. The accompanying logo mark, 'The Sunrose,' marries sun and flower imagery, adding elegance and versatility across apparel, merchandise, and packaging. Additionally, Sunrose's advertising adopts an understated, photo-driven approach with a touch of retro flair, highlighting their 'Daytime Greatest Hits' menu.
This collaborative journey yielded concrete results. Sunrose secured a property and established a leadership team within 120 days, a feat largely attributed to the compelling pitch deck. The restaurant's grand opening triumphantly positioned Sunrose as the new Agoura Hills neighborhood favorite, while their digital presence flourished through strategic email marketing. A targeted welcome flow nurtures customer retention, complemented by a weekly newsletter featuring events, promotions, and community updates. The newsletter's 50% open rate—nearly double the industry average—reflects exceptional audience engagement and has proven crucial in driving consistent foot traffic, amplifying promotional campaigns, and strengthening community connections.
Through ongoing brand management and strategic leadership, Stewart Design continues to guide Sunrose's in-house team across key initiatives, from art direction to campaign execution, ensuring brand consistency and growth. The distinct brand identity and cohesive digital strategy contributed to Sunrose's standout presence in a competitive market and continues to resonate profoundly with their target audience. Through this comprehensive collaboration, Stewart Design played a pivotal role in Sunrose California Eatery's mission to redefine daytime eating.
"Sunrose California Eatery owes its very existence to Stewart Design. Without Stewart Design, we wouldn't have the Sunrose name, logo, or brand identity. They were instrumental in shaping our initial concept and bringing it to life. From fonts to menus to our overall aesthetic, they captured our vision perfectly."
Marc Hernandez, Co-Founder at Sunrose California Eatery
"I can't imagine my restaurant without Stewart Design. Their ability to translate our ideas into the real world is remarkable–they just get it. They brought my vision to life."
Marc Hernandez, Co-Founder at Sunrose California Eatery
"Over 2 years later, Stewart Design's still here helping us almost every day. They're not just creating content; They're managing it and constantly looking ahead to keep our business growing. You can tell he's really invested in us. And it works–it's getting people in here. We're busy. We're growing. People love what we've created here, and Stewart Design was a big part of that."
Marc Hernandez, Co-Founder at Sunrose California Eatery
"Stop hesitating and just make the leap. Stewart Design is truly exceptional at what they do. Thanks again for helping us make Sunrose the success it is today."
Marc Hernandez, Co-Founder at Sunrose California Eatery
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