Eddie Merlot's

A steakhouse catering to the growing ranks of businesswomen, affluent 30-somethings and suburban sophisticates recently opened in Fort Wayne, Ind. The mid-sized Midwestern town is home to a 3600-square-foot prototype for Eddie Merlot's Prime Aged Beef and Seafood Restaurant created by Fitch:Columbus (Columbus, Ohio) and Design Collaborative (Fort Wayne).

“Our research found that to appeal to a broader audience, we needed to alleviate some of the self-seriousness and stodginess of the classic steakhouse venue, while retaining its focus on the finer things in life,” says Lewis Allen, Fitch:Columbus'creative director for the project.

Consequently, designers gave the Eddie Merlot interior brighter and more varied lighting, a mix of maple and cherrywood finishes, and fiery copper, cobalt and gold accents. Vaulted ceiling panels with inlaid wood veneer are hung at varying heights to create differing levels of intimacy, while 12-foot tulip-shaped maple columns accentuate the spaciousness of the main dining room.

“Everything in Eddie Merlot – from the martini bar to the Mondrian-like geometric stained-glass panels – suggests a slight renovation of an enduring concept,” notes Allen.

Client: Eddie Merlot's Prime Aged Beef and Seafood Restaurant, Fort Wayne, Ind. – William Humphries, owner

Design Team: Fitch:Columbus – Lewis Allen, director, consumer environments; John Seeley, environmental designer; Allison Westrick, graphic designer

Architect of Record: Design Collaborative, Fort Wayne, Ind.

General Contractor: W.A. Sheets & Sons, Fort Wayne, Ind.

Suppliers: Equinox Painting, Fort Wayne, Ind. (painting/ wallcoverings); Tile Interiors Inc., Fort Wayne, Ind. (floor coverings); William L. Lupkin Designs, Fort Wayne, Ind. (stained glass); Hall Aluminum Products Inc., Fort Wayne, Ind. (exterior windows and doors); Bracht's Custom Cabinets, Fort Wayne, Ind. (wood rafts/custom frames); Key Millwork Inc., Fort Wayne, Ind. (bar/front desk/server stations); Custom Sound Designs, Grabil, Ind. (sound system design and installation)

Mark Steele Photography, Columbus