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Modern bar with wooden counters, orange lighting, and red chairs. A bartender is preparing drinks, while another person works in the open kitchen behind the counter.
Our Work/Commercial/Aomori

Aomori


Portland chef Masahiko Miyake, joined by his son Reo and daughter-in-law Helen Carter, approached Woodhull with hand-sketched plans for a new family venture – a project that felt like a continuation of a legacy, one rooted in craft, hospitality, and a deep respect for Japanese culinary and design traditions. Aomori marks Masahiko’s return to a more intimate format: an izakaya-style café and bar paired with a market-inspired konbini, offering both sit-down dining and thoughtful grab-and-go options.

View of a modern restaurant interior with a bar, red stools, and dining tables, seen through a large circular wooden window. Warm lighting creates a cozy atmosphere.
Two people stand at a counter speaking to a barista inside a modern, well-lit café with shelves of food, drinks, and products on display.
A minimalist wooden desk with a glowing round lamp, a small potted plant, and a chair beside a window with soft, warm lighting.
A small cafe corner with pastel blue tables, mismatched chairs, a red pendant lamp, and a wall mural featuring flowers, green leaves, and a large red fruit.
A glass door with the white logo and text AOMORI HANOVER STREET reflecting buildings and a cloudy sky.

Project Details

DESIGN TEAM

Bill Carr
Markie Mello
Bud Angst
Caleb Johnson

BUILD TEAM

Shawn Couture
Michael Cleary

MILLWORK TEAM

Woodhull and Southcoast Builders

LOCATION

Portland, Maine

PHOTOGRAPHY

Heidi Kirn Photography

SERVICES

The perfect pair.

Located side by side in The Armature in Portland’s West Bayside neighborhood, the two spaces feel connected, but each has its own personality. The izakaya leans warm and understated, with cherry millwork and a restrained palette that emphasizes materiality and detail over spectacle. The konbini is lighter and more playful, with exposed ceilings and polished concrete softened by natural wood millwork, graphic accents, and a mural inspired by Aomori’s apple blossoms.

Rooted in tradition.

Japanese millwork and joinery traditions guided the design throughout, and elements such as the Marumado (round garden window) and lantern-inspired architectural features reference traditional details. Paired with natural woods and careful proportions, these choices create spaces that feel contemporary yet deeply rooted in tradition.

Embrace the unexpected.

Tucked within the market is the Usagi (rabbit den) room, a hidden, reservation-only sushi space for intimate omakase dinners. Concealed by a panel door, the room is finished with limewashed walls, ceramic sconces, and indirect wood ceiling lighting, creating a quiet, den-like atmosphere. Across both spaces, Aomori reflects a collaboration between client and design team that honors heritage while embracing a modern Portland—crafted, soulful, and meant to be experienced slowly.

A modern dining area with a wooden table, black bench, glassware, wall art, three red hanging lanterns, and minimalist decor on brown shelves.
Wooden shelves filled with various bottled drinks and groceries in a store, with items including juices, sodas, and glass water bottles on display.
A modern bar with wooden shelves, bottles, glasses, and teapots, warm lighting, and two red bar stools at a wooden counter.
A colorful cafe with pastel chairs, blue tables, hanging lantern lights, wall art of flowers, and framed pictures on a cream wall.
A bright, modern shop interior with wooden shelves displaying snacks and drinks, a glass bakery case, and a person working behind a yellow counter.

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