A Love Letter to Brunch: Designing Biscuit Love in Cincinnati
Biscuit Love’s Cincinnati location wasn’t about repeating the past—it was about refining it. INDIO led the design, with Grand Rapids Chair furniture supporting a space made to last as the brand grows.
Biscuit Love didn’t start as a restaurant empire. It started in an Airstream, fueled by Southern hospitality, comfort food, and the kind of biscuits that make you tell your friends. More than a decade later, the brand has grown—carefully, intentionally, and without losing its charm.
When Biscuit Love opened its Cincinnati location in the historic Over-the-Rhine neighborhood, the goal wasn’t to copy and paste what had worked before. It was to pause, reflect, and ask a bigger question: What does Biscuit Love look like as it continues to grow up—without growing boring?
That’s where INDIO came in.
Turning a Brand Into a Space
Alex Gormley, architect and co-founder of INDIO, approached the project less like a standard rollout and more like a brand study. Biscuit Love had evolved over the years—from its early Nashville Americana roots to a softer, more floral palette—but that evolution hadn’t yet been translated into a clear set of design rules.
The Cincinnati location became the testing ground.
Rather than reinventing the brand, INDIO took inventory. They studied existing locations, questioned why certain materials showed up again and again, and stripped away anything that felt redundant. What remained became the foundation for a space that felt familiar, but sharper. Playful, but more intentional.
The design leans into Biscuit Love’s idea of Southern hospitality as welcoming someone into your home—layered with subtle diner references and mid-century nods. Curved soffits, globe lighting, pastel hues, and warm wood tones come together in a space that feels upbeat without being loud. It’s brunch energy, refined just enough.
Furniture That Could Keep Up
As Biscuit Love expanded, furniture started telling a story of its own—and not always a good one. Residential-grade seating looked great on day one, then struggled to survive real restaurant use. Heavier metal chairs held up, but felt bulky and out of place.
For INDIO, this was the moment to rethink furniture as part of the brand experience, not just a line item.
"With Grand Rapids Chair, we were able to get the durability they needed, plus a level of customization that let the furniture feel like part of the design—not an afterthought” said Alex.
Throughout the space, Sherman Chairs and Sally Barstools bring warmth and approachability without sacrificing durability. Their clean lines and tailored profiles fit seamlessly into the pastel palette and wood-forward interior, supporting the design rather than competing with it. Paired with terrazzo-look laminate tabletops—sourced locally from Formica—the seating feels elevated, approachable, and ready for the long haul.
Even the banquette seating was designed with intention. Working alongside a local fabricator, INDIO created custom banquettes that visually align with Grand Rapids Chair’s aesthetic, down to matching wood stains and proportions. The result is a cohesive seating landscape that feels considered from every angle.
A Space Built for Gathering
At its core, Biscuit Love has always been about community—about lingering over brunch, catching up, and feeling welcome whether it’s your first visit or your fiftieth. The Cincinnati location reinforces that idea through a mix of seating types, thoughtful circulation, and a layout that encourages people to settle in.
It’s a restaurant that understands how people actually use space. Come for a quick biscuit sandwich, or stay awhile. Either way, the space meets you where you are.
