Brink's Coffee Shop, Dallas
Texas
Built in 1964, I
think this is probably one of the best examples of the Mid-Century Modern coffee
shop "Googie" style I have ever seen. These photos are from the early-mid
1990s before it changed owners. The Brinks is now a Chinese restaurant. This building
has all the standard elements of Mid-century modern coffee shop architecture.
Huge windows, gravity defying roof & great stonework. I would really like
to find out who designed this restaurant. Click on the photos to see larger
versions.
The
ramp-like profile of this building with the two overlapping sideways "Zs"
is really unique. I've never seen anything like this before or since. The stone
wall shooting out of the front of the building dividing the entry lobby with the
dining area of the restaurant is classic MCM touch. Notice the recessed lights
around the underside of the overhangs.
Here's
the other side of the stone wall complete with wrought-iron horse and jockey wall
sculpture. The landscaping was really very nicely done. Notice how the front of
planter wall is parallel with the front line of the stone wall which is at a right
angle to the roof line.
Here's
an elevation plan-view of the entry. Notice the overlapping sideways "Zs"
and the parallel lines of the front of the stone wall and the front structural
members of the entry lobby. Check out the stepped end of the cinderblock wall
at the far right of the photo. I wish I had a close-up of the front stepped part
of the wall. I was really impressed when I noticed how the cinderblock wall was
built. See photo below for a close-up of the wall.
Another
view of the sideways "Zs." The front of the back Z floats above the
back of the front Z.
Here's
a close-up of the northeast wall. The cinderblocks have been cut at an angle on
the bottom to put all the lines of the wall on an angle! Amazing! It gives an
optical illusion of the ground being on a slope. I can't imagine anyone going
to the trouble to do something this cool today.
Here's
a view of the southwest side of the building taken in 2002. Prominent stone wall
at the rear extends well past the back end of the rear "Z" to screen
the rear service area of the restaurant. Large angled-top glass windows at the
front where the dining area is. There is another stone wall jutting out to the
side at the front corner. The landscaping seems to have declined quite a bit since
it was the Brinks.
The
Brinks sign as it looked when I took the photos in the early-mid 1990s. Horse
and Jockey were featured here as well just like on the stone wall. Now that I
look at this sign it's all the more strange. Notice the horse is just a silhouette
and the jockey appears to be a "lawn jockey" complete with a base that
the jockey is standing on. Hmmmm??? Classic wacky "Coffee Shop" logo
at the bottom! This sign has since been changed.
Back
to Googie Main
The
ramp-like profile of this building with the two overlapping sideways "Zs"
is really unique. I've never seen anything like this before or since. The stone
wall shooting out of the front of the building dividing the entry lobby with the
dining area of the restaurant is classic MCM touch. Notice the recessed lights
around the underside of the overhangs.
Here's
the other side of the stone wall complete with wrought-iron horse and jockey wall
sculpture. The landscaping was really very nicely done. Notice how the front of
planter wall is parallel with the front line of the stone wall which is at a right
angle to the roof line.
Here's
an elevation plan-view of the entry. Notice the overlapping sideways "Zs"
and the parallel lines of the front of the stone wall and the front structural
members of the entry lobby. Check out the stepped end of the cinderblock wall
at the far right of the photo. I wish I had a close-up of the front stepped part
of the wall. I was really impressed when I noticed how the cinderblock wall was
built. See photo below for a close-up of the wall.
Another
view of the sideways "Zs." The front of the back Z floats above the
back of the front Z. 
Here's
a close-up of the northeast wall. The cinderblocks have been cut at an angle on
the bottom to put all the lines of the wall on an angle! Amazing! It gives an
optical illusion of the ground being on a slope. I can't imagine anyone going
to the trouble to do something this cool today. 
Here's
a view of the southwest side of the building taken in 2002. Prominent stone wall
at the rear extends well past the back end of the rear "Z" to screen
the rear service area of the restaurant. Large angled-top glass windows at the
front where the dining area is. There is another stone wall jutting out to the
side at the front corner. The landscaping seems to have declined quite a bit since
it was the Brinks.