Sunrose California Eatery

With over 50 years of combined hospitality experience, co-founders Carie and Marc Hernandez envisioned an upscale breakfast, brunch, and lunch experience to redefine daytime eating. However, statistics show that merely 1 in 10 U.S. restaurants offer a dedicated brunch menu and a full cocktail bar. Additionally, many daytime eateries focus heavily on waffles, pancakes, and eggs, neglecting their lunch menu. Recognizing this gap and driven by the fast-casual movement, which has left many craving personalized experiences, Carie and Marc partnered with Stewart Design to bring their vision to life in sunny Los Angeles.

This visionary concept posed challenges, demanding a distinctive market position, strong market presence, and a compelling narrative to engage potential landlords, investors, team members, and the community – all within a tight timeline. Their objectives included securing a prime location, establishing a core leadership team, and crafting a brand pitch deck to share their vision and value with stakeholders. This journey materialized as the startup franchise, Sunrose California Eatery, a stylish daytime eatery, bar, market, and anytime event space that celebrates classic California with a modern twist.

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, marketing collateral, an advertising campaign, 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. Likewise, the restaurant's grand opening triumphantly positioned Sunrose as the new Agoura Hills neighborhood favorite. The distinct brand identity contributed to Sunrose's standout presence in a competitive market and continues to resonate profoundly with their target audience. Through strategic collaboration, Stewart Design played a pivotal role in Sunrose California Eatery's mission to redefine daytime eating.