Wynwood design committee approves signage permits for nine storefronts, sets conditions for Chipotle façade

The Wynwood Design Review Committee on Oct. 24 approved a series of signage permits for businesses in the Wynwood neighborhood, including Ted’s Burgers, West Elm, ThrowSocial, Chipotle and The Baked Bear, and attached a condition on Chipotle’s façade sign requiring the mounting frame and mesh backing to match the steel finish shown in the submitted drawings.

The committee’s approvals cover a set of wall, channel-letter, projecting (blade) and window-vinyl signs across multiple addresses in the Wynwood Fashion and Industrial districts. Committee members said the approvals aim to balance storefront visibility with Wynwood’s distinctive visual character and existing urban design approvals already issued for some buildings.

Most applications drew only brief discussion. Agustin Arias, representing Modulex on the ThrowSocial application, said the new installation will retain the existing sign structure and “keep the same size, same location,” while updating materials for the new tenant. The West Elm presentation included a tile sample and renderings; staff and the applicant told the committee the building’s eventual mural/paint artwork will be presented separately to the committee after Planning and Urban Design reviews. A representative for Chipotle described the proposed façade frame and backing, saying the design would “enhance Wynwood’s artistic and cultural identity” and that the supports would be integrated with the existing storefront steel.

The committee granted approvals with a specific condition for Chipotle: the mounting frame and the metal-mesh-style backing shown in the renderings must match the steel color and the mounting-frame details in the application (note 3 on the project packet). The committee recorded that the façade support frame would be fabricated to tie into existing storefront brackets and that LED channel letters would be used. For West Elm the committee noted prior conditional approvals from Urban Design and Planning and confirmed the sign materials and tile samples provided at the meeting.

Votes were taken on each discrete application; committee members moved and seconded individual approvals and called the vote. The committee did not review temporary or small “opening day” interior signage (hours of operation, health notices), which staff said are handled separately (often via building permits) and typically do not return to WDRC unless they require a sign variance.

The approvals list included: - Ted’s Burgers – wall-mounted channel letters (sign permit). Approved. - West Elm – multiple channel-letter signs, projecting sign, and ground-level window vinyls across several permit packages; approvals referenced tile and paint samples and noted broader façade artwork will be submitted later. Approved with conditions previously documented by Urban Design/Planning. - ThrowSocial – replacement/retained channel sign for the former Oasis location; applicant said it keeps the existing portal and “push-through” letters for the new name. Approved. - The Baked Bear – silhouette-backed channel letters suspended over entry; applicant provided fabrication details and a sample of an enclosed open-face channel-letter style. Approved. - Chipotle (2447 NW 2 Ave) – two applications: blade (projecting) sign and façade/wall sign. The committee approved both; the façade sign approval included an explicit condition to match note number 3 (mounting-frame details) and to use the metal-mesh/steel backing as shown and painted to match the steel framing.

Committee members and staff emphasized the importance of the building background material and context (tile, painted murals, façade materials) in determining signage compatibility. Applicants were asked to submit final color and mounting details with building-permit documents to ensure consistency with the WDRC packet and the condition noted on the Chipotle façade application.

The meeting concluded after the final vote; staff and members noted they would follow up on how temporary “opening-day” signs are permitted and enforced.