The Usual- Tate Street Coffee

An obvious choice for inspiration, but a good one never the less, is Tate Street Coffee House in Greensboro, NC.  This coffee house makes use of their walls to help sell artwork by local artists and also has art competitions through out the year open to the public to bring in the community.

Paper Source

This store is a fun paper inspired space in Phillip's Place on Sardis Rd. in South Charlotte.  I especially loved their fall window display making use of a paper owl kit that was on sale in the store.  The store was full of little kids playing with the paper kits, but there is a more business side of the store as well displaying their proper stationery.

Imaginon

The Imaginon is a children's library and activities center in downtown Charlotte, NC.  When I was in high school I used to volunteer here for various community events.  The space is very whimsical and colorful, as it should be for children, and successfully integrated the library and community spaces to create the Center.  I love the assymetrical roof design and the bold use of color.

Red Tree Gallery and Coffee Shop

The Red Tree Gallery located in Cincinnati, Ohio was an inspiring store that I found while searching Coffee Shops online.  The store combines a coffee shop, a gallery, a gift shop and a workshop space; very similar to what "The Hatchery" intends to be.  Right now they are offering a print silkscreen workshop and all of the merchandise sold in the shop is handmade by a local artist.

Paper Skyscraper

Paper Skyscraper is my all time favorite gift store in my hometown Charlotte, NC and is located on East Blvd.  The store, as I was told recently on my latest visit to the store this weekend, started out as an architecture book store (hence the name).  Nowadays, there are lots of books, childrens toys, body soaps, and kitchen supplies to satisfy any gifting needs.  The design is playful and unique; I especially liked the rippled sheet metal used behind the gift card display shown in the first image.