Country Joe’s Drive-Thru
Clements, California

Standing bright and bold against a landscape of oaks and rolling hills, Country Joe’s drive-thru is a new landmark destination along rural highway 88.

Country Joe’s is the dream of Gary and Bonnie Cassel, who wanted to bring an upscale coffee and specialty dessert venue to the placid town of Clements, California. Situated on a compact site and having a footprint of only 250 square feet, the project challenged LDA Partners to study vehicular patterns on the site to accommodate a two-directional drive-thru. A second challenge was to ensure that the diminutive structure would be highly visible, yet be appropriate and compatible with its agricultural surroundings.

LDA Partners’ solution was to design a small, “barn-like” form with a high chroma color palette of red, blue, and yellow creating a recognizable element in the rural landscape. In addition, several agricultural-themed elements, including a bright yellow windmill, assist in defining vehicular circulation.

This project earned an Award for Excellence in Design from the American Institute of Architects.