The team behind Carpenter Bar brings a unique boutique-style option for cocktails and food in the heart of downtown Sioux Falls—The Treasury. Built in a space that previously functioned as a bank since 1918, its history heavily influenced the design of the newest bar.
From the Hotel on Phillips lobby, visitors can enter The Treasury through a giant bank vault, walking through a circular tunnel into the low-lit art-deco ambiance.
On the opposite side of the room is the bar itself, adorned with golden elephant heads and positioned below a wall of antique mirrors and windows that overlook the Downtown River Greenway. To the left are mounted sheep heads, and to the right, a large, circular bookshelf.
The lived-in, antique atmosphere was achieved by layering different textures, patterns, fabrics, and materials, says co-owner Anne Haber. Haber and team used many different materials for the design, including dark walnut, medium walnut, black marble, white marble, and birdseye maple. She also emphasized the importance of varying the kinds of seating—from plush chairs to high-top chairs to banquet chairs to dining chairs.
“While we want to be a major piece of this hotel and we want all the hotel guests to visit, we also want to be a really great place for the local community.” – ANNE HABER
HISTORY OF 100 N. PHILLIPS AVE.
The Sioux Falls National Bank was built in 1918, and at that point, it was the tallest building in South Dakota. The lower floors would operate as various banks for the next 100 years, while the upper floors housed office spaces. Today, the building has been restored into a boutique hotel, and the first floor is home to the treasury.
“They’re really restoring this building. They’re not just gutting it and making it easy. They’re taking a really thoughtful, really quality approach to the project, which we think is amazing.” – ANNE HABER
“I like that if someone were to walk in here, you wouldn’t feel like it’s brand new,” said co-owner Brian White. “I think we’ll get hotel guests who will assume that this place has been open for 50 years just because it’s kind of timeless.”
Haber says one of her favorite parts of the space is the use of the color green on the walls. Different shades of green of Farrow & Ball paint were employed to harken back to the idea that the room was once a bank. After all, green is the color of money, says Haber.
Other design elements in The Treasury also reflect the space’s “rich” past. The huge circular bookshelf in one corner mimics the shape of a vault, and in the opposite corner, vintage deposit boxes decorate the wall near the entrance.
The team at The Treasury also wanted to make sure that South Dakota was aptly represented in the décor. Nods to the state’s wildlife can be found all over the room—from the stuffed ducks to the pheasant feathers that hang on the walls.
“Obviously this will be frequented by hotel guests, probably from out of town. It’s fun that they are able to come to a place where we do have some local touches,” said Haber.
DESIGN INSPIRED BY HISTORY
> BANK DEPOSIT BOXES: The safety deposit boxes inlaid in the wall next to the bank vault entrance were originally part of an old bank that resided in the building.
> LIGHT FIXTURE: A modern take on traditional lighting, the light fixture in the center of the bar was designed to echo the vintage light fixtures in the hotel lobby.
> TERRAZZO FLOOR: The crushed mineral appearance of the floor was restored from the original building. Terrazzo flooring was especially popular in the early 1900s.
As for the bar itself, the team at The Treasury wanted to emphasize cocktail culture, says general manager Michael Mohr. Mohr was excited to have unrestricted creative freedom in terms of the menu. The restaurant side will focus on shareables, like fondue, sausage plates, hot and spicy nuts, deviled eggs, and classic charcuterie.
Known for the attention to detail at Carpenter Bar, the team says they’re excited to carry that same mantra over into the newest venture.
“I think that’s a really important piece of all this,” said Haber,”the service and just the desire to constantly strive for excellence in product and in creativity. And that push is constantly there, so hopefully what you see is also what you get.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THETREASURYDTSF.COM.
