PROJECT TYPE

Hospitality

LOCATION

Mill Valley, CA

PROJECT SIZE

1,400 s.f.

YEAR OF COMPLETION

Completed 2020

PROJECT OVERVIEW

Nestled within the historic Mill Valley Lumber Yard, reimagined as a destination for shopping and dining, the Watershed is aptly named. This restaurant finds its home in what was once Mill Valley's original sawmill, built over a meandering creek in a valley of Mt. Tamalpais. The aesthetic of the Watershed pays homage to the rich history of this former logging town, creating a community space for locals, and a sanctuary for hikers and mountain bikers alike.

The efficient kitchen hosts a wood-fired pizza oven and smoker that infuses each dish with rustic flavor. The 12-person bar serves as the local watering hole, with a burnished brass backdrop and solid walnut counter fabricated by a local artisan. Steel and glass bar shelving displays an array of unique spirits, accompanied by a record player that spins the owner’s favorite vinyl. 

The 50+ seat dining room is cladded with 100-year old hickory wood siding which the owner imported from a barn in NY. The original wood floors underfoot carry echoes of time past, seamlessly merging with the contemporary cedar ceiling that stretches overhead. The dining experience extends onto the patio, which opens up to the shared space of the lumber yard and fosters a sense of community gathering.

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