WHAT WE DO
Walnut Spaceship is a development + design firm that creates new social experiences. We design and build retail coffee bars, bakeries, co-working spaces, coffee roasteries, restaurants, corporate flagship sites, and theaters. From brand concept, retail flow and layout, architectural plans, to custom tables: we develop, we design, we make.
THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
Every project is an event. People want to be together. Any gathering is enhanced by a retail offering, such as a great cup of coffee. This prioritization sets the stage for retail success. Walnut Spaceship helps a client make a market by identifying and innovating upon ongoing micro-cultural experiences paired with retail. Add to this: geographic market selection (LA, Chicago, Seattle, Louisville, San Francisco, and beyond), individual and multi store site selection, landlord negotiation, work letters, site design, custom build and up-fit, operate, and sell (that cup of coffee)!
PAUL LEISEN, PRINCIPAL
Paul Leisen holds a PhD in social-political philosophy (Loyola University Chicago). He has a background in theatre performance and set design (B.S., Northwestern University). Leisen flips the development story in favor of people. Strategic design thinking answers the felt conditions of fragmentation; project success closely follows the success of its makers. Person to person connection in a shared endeavor makes it happen.
Leisen worked as Director of Development for Intelligentsia Coffee during its most exciting growth phase, opening shops in Venice Beach, Pasadena; relaunching multiple stores in Chicago, notably Millennium Park, and breaking ground for a coffee roastery in San Francisco. Intelligentsia was subsequently acquired by Peet’s Coffee/JAB Holdings. (Andrew Barnett now owns the SF Linea Cafe Roastery on Potrero Hill!)
In 2011 Leisen formed leisendesign. He led a small group of investors and managers in reinventing two-store Dollop Coffee, resulting in 17 new locations, strategic acquisitions, and a roastery. Dollop won a buy out/capitalization by Docasa, the British powerhouse responsible for London’s Department of Coffee and Social Affairs. Leisen shepherded this rapid development, executing site selection, lease negotiation, design, architecture, finishes and successful shop openings.
Pairing with Datascope Analytics (acquired by IDEO in 2017) Leisen reclaimed a 17th floor office suite overlooking Chicago’s Millennium Park. He invented a multi colored and delightfully illuminated creative launch pad for a leading edge consultant in today’s big data world.
Leisen has designed theatre sets for the Curious Theatre Branch, Theatre Oobleck, and the Rhinoceros Theatre Festival. He sustains a small performance space adjacent his design studio on the South Side of Chicago. Leisen writes on Hannah Arendt and Brecht. He has lectured on Philosophy at Loyola University.
Leisen lives in Chicago with his four children: Betty, Matthias, Penelope, and Sven.
COMMERCIAL PROJECTS
Starbucks MW Region 10 years.
Fringe Theatre Perform/Design 15 years
Rhinoceros Theatre Festival
Intelligentsia Coffee 10 Years
Broadway Intelligentsia, Chicago
Monadnock Intelligentsia, Chicago
Millennium Park Intelligentsia, Chicago
Venice Intelligentsia (Project Mgmt), Los Angeles
Pasadena Intelligentsia (Project Mgmt), Los Angeles
Ecco Roasting, San Francisco
Leisendesign/Walnut Spaceship 2011-present
Dollop Streeterville 345 E Ohio, Chicago
Hoosier Mama Pie & Coffee, Evanston
Dollop 343 S Dearborn, Chicago
Hoosier Mama Pilsen Bakery, Chicago
Dollop 860 N Dewitt, Chicago
Dollop 225 W Washington, Chicago
New Wave (up-fit), Chicago
Dollop Kickstand, Belmont, Chicago
Dollop Bakeshop 1000 N Damen + Augusta, Chicago
Dollop 55 W Monroe, Chicago
Dollop Hyde Park U of C, Chicago
Datascope/IDEO Headquarters 17 N State, Chicago
Metropolis Granville (future), Chicago
Dollop Diner, Chicago
Dollop 670 N Wells, Chicago
Dollop 801 S Financial Place
Level Co-Working Cafe, Pioneer Square, Seattle
The Alley (closed), Clark/Belmont
Dollop 853 N Larrabee, Chicago
Halfwit Roasting at 4200 Workspace, Chicago
Wormhole 1965 N Milwaukee-Armitage-Ashland, Chicago
Helix Cafe 6237 N Clark, Chicago
Busted Bean Lab 1807 Frankfort Ave, Louisville, KY
Smack Dab Restaurant (up-fit), Chicago, 6730 N Clark, Chicago
Newport Coffee cycle-cart, Evanston
Dollop 1000 W Lake, Oak Park IL
Dollop 1508 W Sherman, Evanston, IL
The Rose Cafe, Chicago
Dollop 808 N Wells, Chicago
Custom built-ins for private clients