Project Type: Commercial

Mentone

December 17, 2020

Influenced by the small French town of Menton just kilometers away from the Italian border, Restaurateur and Executive Chef, David Kinch, worked with RVH Designs and Testorff Construction to bring this causal Mediterranean restaurant to the Aptos Village. This was a very collaborative effort between all parties, to ensure the vision of the restaurant was achieved.

The team at Testorff met the challenge by creating an experience as soon as you lay eyes on the building thanks to the exterior design and colors. In addition to the sate of the art kitchen and beautifully done bar areas, the open concept restaurant contains specific details brought from the Franco-Italian Riviera. Old world venetian style plaster, leather brown stained floors, custom mill work, and a painted “rug” are just a few of the details that transport patrons to another place. The restaurant was literally built around a custom Italian pizza oven, as that was the first piece to be installed even before framing due to it’s size and location requirements.

Enjoy the gallery below, and be sure to stop by next time you visit the village for a special dining experience.

Ser Tasting Room

November 24, 2020

Ser is a Spanish word that expresses identity or origin, and that was exactly what Santa Cruz winemaker and owner of Ser Winery, Nicole Walsh wanted to portray at her tasting room in the Aptos Village. Nicole had a clear vision of what her tasting room should be, and the team at Testorff was able to help create that vision.

If you have the pleasure of stopping by the tasting room, you’ll find a quaint, tastefully design space with a beautiful long bar top, artwork, and plenty of delicious local wine.

The Grille at Delaveaga

November 18, 2020

This complete front and back of house renovation was great collaboration between The Grille’s co-owner Jamie Loustalot, the Testorff Construction Team, architects, designers, and individual trade specialists. The Testorff team was given the challenge of creating Loustalot’s vision for this update to the well-known establishment.

As Jamie Loustalot explains, “The entire team was amazing to work with, from the office team to the front line builders! They heard exactly what I was looking for and were very collaborative throughout the entire project to ensure it was inline with my vision.”

The finish product is a tastefully modern 3,400 sqft restaurant, complete with a new state of the art kitchen, server’s station, customed designed bar, and event a fireplace. The team was able to incorporate some of the old, by using a couple of the original statement pieces throughout the space, including the hand-crafted tree carving and the restaurants original chandeliers.

Explore the renovation photos below and don’t forget to stop the for a pint and bite to eat after your next round on the links.

O’Neill Surf Shop Aptos

November 13, 2020

This retail conversion is another great example of what the Testorff team can do with a completely blank canvas. The newest O’Neill Surf Shop gave our team an opportunity to design and build all aspects of the surf shop, from fitting rooms to display walls.

The design and build out of the surf shop was an extremely collaborative process between O’Neill, Testorff Construction, and each of the specialty trade professionals that were involved. The result is an O’Neill Surf Shop that complements the brand and vision of everyone involved.

Next time you’re down in the village stop by the shop and check out some of the more intricate and specialty features of O’Neill Surf Shop Aptos, including the t-shirt wall, the barn-door wetsuit displays, and Captain Jack O’Neill’s Hot Air Balloon Bucket.

Margaritaville

September 20, 2016

Our main focus with the Margaritaville project was to reenvision the outdated bar and update the atmosphere that has been their mainstay for so many years. This included complete interior remodel, deck remodel, window expansion to maximize the views, and major ceiling and soffit work to compliment the new “wave bar.”

Flats Bistro

September 20, 2016

Tenant improvement for Jeanne Harrison, owner of Cafe Rio, included complete rework of an older coffeeshop. Our objective here was to transform the outdated establishment into a modern cafe experience, including commercial kitchen install, custom counters, cabinetry & millwork, as well as the installation of a Mugnaini pizza oven.

The new design also included an ADA compliant bathroom, concrete overlay floors with stain and an updated courtyard.

Lillian’s Italian Kitchen

September 20, 2016

Located in the historic Ebert Building at the corner of Soquel and Seabright avenues, Lillian’s Italian Kitchen is a gem offering amazing food in an atmosphere to match. The pre-existing space offered no kitchen infrastructure which required substantial plumbing and retooling to accommodate Lillian’s highly functional ultra-modern kitchen.

Testorff Construction removed all existing walls and construction while paying special attention not to disturb any historical relevance such as the original tin ceiling tiles. Extensive venting, ANSL hood installation and fire suppression systems were also required for this enormous space with its open kitchen.

To top it all off the metropolitan bar punctuates the restaurant’s classic and familiar ambiance.

Read more about the project in the Santa Cruz Sentinel:
www.santacruzsentinel.com/article/NE/20160429/NEWS/160429662

Bantam

April 17, 2013

The Bantam Restaurant demonstrates what can be achieved on a minimal budget with good communication and cooperation between the owner and contractor. A tenant improvement project, we converted a personal fitness studio into a boutique wood fired pizza restaurant in just four short months. Working closely with the owner made for an easy decision process that gave them a lot of ‘bang for the buck’.

In order to achieve the edgy, urban chic look that the owner had in mind, we used reclaimed wood for walls, counter and the bar. We salvaged the original floor, keeping its industrial look and sealing it with hospital-grade epoxy. The audio system is a mix of classic and modern components. To efficiently utilize space, we installed the custom walk-in freezer under the stairs.

The custom wood oven was made in Italy by Valoriani and installed by Mugnaini out of Watsonville. With the kitchen open to the restaurant, commercial grade hoods and a whisper quite HVAC system sit over the stove to keep everyone cool. For additional safety, a commercial-kitchen grade foam fire suppression system was installed. Within the brief project window, we worked closely with the city and county to meet ADA and environmental health codes.

We can’t be more pleased with the results. The finished restaurant, at 1010 Fair Ave, on the Santa Cruz west side, has a warm, friendly charm. To top it off, the food is as good as the ambiance.

Aptos Hotsource Yoga Studio

March 18, 2013

This complete remodel converted a flooring showroom into a Hotsource Yoga studio, in which yoga is practiced in a hot environment. The studio is located in a shopping center, requiring respectful consideration of their neighbors.

Additional insulation was required throughout, along with specialized flooring. A commercial grade HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) and humidifier system was installed. This allows the yoga space to be heated to 105 degrees within an hour.

As you can see the results are stunning. This studio is considered by many to be the best-looking hot yoga studio in Santa Cruz County.

Sushi Garden

March 17, 2013

A classic remodel, this popular Capitola restaurant expanded into an adjoining space, doubling in size. We took special care and precautions that allowed them to remain open for business during phase 1 of the expansion and phase 2 remodeling of the original restaurant. To minimize the impact on their business, a strict 4-month timeline had to be met.

The owners wanted to combine classic and modern elements with an open feel. This required removal of several existing walls. Note the wood details and split-faced stone behind the custom-made sake bar. The bar area features an integrated video and audio system for parties and sporting events. The mix of lighting creates just the right ambiance. Bamboo in the windows between sections allows the wait staff to see into other rooms and the kitchen while maintaining the theme of the restaurant.

In the original seating area, we expanded the entryway and waiting area to accommodate customers. The new kitchen was modernized with high-efficiency commercial appliances and dishwasher.

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