Opening a restaurant with Agnes & Sherman
I was fortunate enough to collaborate with Tilit and Agnes & Sherman this past year to see a little bit of what it’s like for Chef Nick Wong and Partner Lisa Lee to open their long awaited Asian American Diner- Agnes and Sherman.
When I learned that Chef Nick Wong and Lisa Lee would be partnering to open a restaurant, I was excited and immediately inspired to help however I could. I knew I had to connect A&S and Tilit in some way because my talented friends deserve the best workwear. My experience working with the Founders of Tilit, Alex McCrery and Jenny Goodman, kinda started a longgg time ago. When I shot this article for Fast Company magazine in 2017. I was a young lad fresh outta college, and Tilit was a very small company with a simple idea- to make work wear less boring and more enjoyable to wear, even outside of the kitchen or after work.. Fast forward, many years later, we worked together again this time in Houston, TX to launch their Cambro collaboration which was a fun and viral success.
Opening a restaurant is tough, and something we rarely see documented, and I knew that if I could connect A&S and Tilit that it would create an opportunity for us to work together to document the process and put the workwear to the test.
An initial walk through of the space before lighting or furniture was moved in, gave me perspective that would allow me to enjoy seeing the progress during every visit. This specific visit was to see the construction progress in the building as well as to see the sign on their facade go up and get plugged in!
My idea for this collaboration and story was simple… we always see chefs or business partners in environments while the restaurant is already operational. We see them in the kitchen or behind a desk, in the weeds or out front of their restaurant, posing triumpantly. We rarely see what it’s like for them to open a restaurant together. You know? All of the not-so-usually glamorous things like cleaning, fixing, building, and FIGURING-IT-OUT, is often omitted from public view. We often just see the polished final version of a restaurant. Welp, I wanted to focus on these essential aspects of community building and literal restaurant building, with Tilit as their second skin, the vessel, that carries them through it.
We spent some time together at a brunch pop-up where Chef Nick Wong collaborated with Chef Aaron Bludorn to highlight a few of the menu items that will be available at A&S. One of countless pop-ups that helped them not only raise money for their restaurant but also built up the excitement within the restaurant community.
Seeing them observe their sign going up was definitely a highlight. Nothing makes it all feel quite as REAL as when you’re physically announcing your arrival to the city.
A large shipment of furniture arriving felt like the perfect opportunity for me to roll up my sleeves and help unload and to help unpack. In between breaks I’d “break out” my camera and witness the team wielding razor blades and knives slashing up tape and cardboard boxes, and breaking open wooden crates with hammers.
The time has finally come for Agnes and Sherman to open their doors. Friends and family attended the few nights before opening to the public. These were days filled with cheers, beers, and tears. My highlight - the team that has worked hard for so long to bring this vision to life, applauded and cheered as Nick’s parents entered the restaurant for their first dinner service. Here’s what it looks like when a long awaited restaurant comes to life.
