CABIN IN THE WOODS

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many businesses were forced either to close due to the absence of people in the streets or to transform in order to survive. No one knew whether the situation would last weeks, months, or years. At the same time, the pandemic opened opportunities for new business models, such as dark kitchens. These establishments, without a fixed location to serve diners, leveraged food delivery services to reach a society eager to maintain as much normalcy as possible.

Umai emerged as a Japanese food concept in León, Guanajuato, led by a pair of entrepreneurs under the name Umai Box, focusing primarily on rice rolls. From 2020 to mid-2024, they operated as a dark kitchen. However, in 2024, they secured entrepreneurial funding and decided to transition from a dark kitchen into a full-fledged restaurant. That’s when they approached us for guidance, not only in designing the establishment but also in finding a suitable location.