Publican Anker Uniforms by Stock Mfg
Over the years, we've been lucky to collaborate with some of the most prominent restaurant groups in Chicago. Many are spots we at Stock frequent not just for the food and drink, but also teams behind them. One group in particular that we've been fans of for years is One Off Hospitality. So needless to say we were excited when we got tapped to design uniforms for their newest Wicker Park concept, Publican Anker.
Another spinoff of the original Publican in Fulton Market, Anker is a more tavern-like incarnation of the iconic original. We met with the One Off team during construction of the space to gather inspiration and take a look at the materials the contractors were using for the buildout. This included the concrete floor, wood paneling used for the booths and ceiling above the bar, and the zinc bar top.
We developed two custom aprons; one for the bartenders, and another for the kitchen. For the kitchen, we used a utilitarian 9.25 oz cotton duck fabric with a durable water-resistant finish to shield against stains. The bartender aprons feature a softer brushed canvas, double pockets, and "X-Back" straps that rest on the shoulders rather than the back of the neck for comfort.
For the servers, we developed a sport coat in both men's and women's cuts. The coats are made from a lightweight nylon, giving the wearer a range of motion without causing them to overheat. The jackets also have plenty of storage, with three exterior patch pockets.
The jackets' sleeve plackets are functional, allowing the sleeves to be rolled for a more casual look. The contrast black buttons feature engraved anchors that tie into the restaurant's name and logo. The word "anker" in the title, however, refers not to an actual anchor, but the unit of liquid capacity for wine that equals 10 gallons. The result of the project was a staff that looked as good as the menu. 10/10 would collaborate again.