SHOP - Local Retail Design Firm — Maurer Architecture

Black text with the word ‘SHOP’ written in large, outlined letters on a white background.

Maurer Architecture designs retail spaces that invite people to linger, explore, and return. We collaborate with local businesses to turn underused structures into dynamic destinations—bottle shops, bars, and boutiques that reflect the personality of their owners and the communities they serve. From downtown Raleigh to Goldsboro, our projects balance preservation with new purpose—honoring historic details while introducing

flexibility, natural light, and thoughtful flow. Whether it’s a polished bottle shop, a bustling brew supply store, or a mid-century warehouse reimagined, we design spaces that support both retail experience and neighborhood connection.

Modern Love

Wilmington, NC, 2026

In a new location on Castle Street in Wilmington, NC, Modern Love (the sister store to Father and Son in Raleigh, NC), offers a fresh, fun, and funky backdrop to vintage shopping. This building is part of a series of buildings along Castle Street that are receiving a revamp. For this project a refresh to the interior along with cosmetic updates on the exterior bring the space to life, and vibrancy back to the street. Modern Love is the perfect example of how even smaller scale rehabilitation projects make a huge impact on the character of a city.

Photography: Mark Terry Photography

Sol House Wines

Raleigh, NC, 2025

Inside Sol House Wines, the bones do a lot of the talking. Set within a former tobacco warehouse at Brightleaf Square, the space balances texture and warmth — original brick walls, rich wood beams, and columns.

A curated lineup of natural wines lines both sides of the entry, including shelving tucked neatly into a former bay door opening — a nod to the building’s working past. The space opens into a bar and seating area, where white walls brighten the room and keep the focus on good wine. Another chapter added to a space that’s already lived many lives.

Photography: Mark Terry Photography

escazu

Raleigh, NC, 2025

Escazú is a well-loved, local chocolate maker rooted in craft and community. For their new space, we designed around the millwork brought over from their former location and expanded what mattered most: a larger, more efficient chocolate-making area. Visitors can now watch production through generous interior windows or sign up for guided factory tours for a closer look.

The Spanish coffee-bean roaster used for the cocoa beans reflects the owners’ dedication to traditional methods. Co-owner Danielle, originally from Venezuela, continues to bring her deep knowledge of cacao and culture to every part of the operation.

Photography: Kyle Foreman Photography

House of Many Porches Market

Front view of a vintage house with a wide porch, wooden stairs, and a grey shingled roof, surrounded by green trees and manicured grass, with a red brick walkway leading to the porch.

Image of a small convenience store with wooden flooring, wooden cabinets, a drink refrigerator, and a window showing trees outside.

Interior of a coffee shop with a white counter displaying baked goods, wooden shelves with plants and decor, menu signs on the wall, and a window with a view of greenery outside.

A large yellow house with dark trim and a porch, surrounded by a landscaped garden with small plants and trees. There are several black trash bins and a wooden seating area in the garden.

Interior of a cozy cafe with wooden flooring, multiple round white tables, black and green chairs, a wooden bench, large windows with white frames, wall-mounted TV, and decorative framed photographs.

Interior of a small coffee shop with wooden flooring, a coffee counter, a refrigerated beverage display, and snack shelves.

Interior of a small shop or cafe with a wooden floor, white walls, and large windows. There is a curved LED ceiling light, a flat-screen TV, and shelves with snacks and bottles. There is a sign on the door that reads 'HOUSE OF MANY PORCHES'.

Interior of a modern convenience store with a refrigerated beverage display, wooden shelves with snacks, and a sign that reads 'House of Many Porches' on the wall.

Raleigh, NC, 2025

Located within Dorothea Dix Park, the House of Many Porches Market is designed as a gathering place that celebrates the park’s landscape and history. Surrounded by mature trees, native plantings, and an herb garden, the project creates a space where visitors can enjoy a meal, sip a beer on the porch, or relax on the lawn with a picnic.

This historic home was originally the home for senior staff of the former mental health hospital. The goal was to thoughtfully transform the interior into a lively community destination. This space is a reflection of our continued commitment to breathing new life into existing buildings in ways that invite connection, comfort, and joy.

Photography: Mark Terry Photo

The Raleigh Wine Shop

Raleigh, NC, 2022

Princess Street

Wilmington, NC, 2021

State of Beer at The Bend

Raleigh, NC 2024

The downtown trio of houses affectionately known as ‘The Bend’ have been reimagined as home to the new State of Beer and The Bend Bar. Originally constructed as single-family residences in the early 1900’s, these buildings pack a lot into their small footprints!

State of Beer, located in the center of the three buildings, sells food, beverages, and bottles to go, while also offering indoor dining and seats at the bar. The space is warm and inviting, and the bar opens up to the outdoors with the ability to serve customers from multiple points. The addition of a large deck and roof canopy significantly increases the under-roof seating area for year-round enjoyment, and also connects to The Bend Bar next door.