Nolita Hall

Location: San Diego, California
Use Case: Bars & Restaurants
Design Style: Classic European beer hall with Italian design elements
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Custom Split Flap Specs

Size: 10 ROWS x 32 COLUMNS
Dimensions: 64.2″ x 93.4″ x 5″
Finish: Black Sheet Metal Casing
Font & Text Style: Stock Font and Flaps
Add-ons: Flight-Tracker Software
Installed: 2018

Project Overview

Black Swan sought to offer a unique full-service beer hall experience to locals and visitors alike. It was made clear from the beginning of this project that Nolita Hall’s aesthetic was to be rooted in modern and traditional European drinking emporiums with a particular keenness for Italian design. With this, David Michael, Principal of Tecture Inc., imagined including a Split Flap display into Nolita’s layout. Tecture Inc. was handling the custom elements to be included in the space, but they quickly realized that recreating a Solari style Split Flap was beyond their capabilities. David connected Oat Foundry with Doug Hamm, Founder of Black Swan Hospitality (owner of Nolita Hall) and President/Founder of Creative House to explore the capabilities of Split Flap displays.

In speaking with Doug, Oat Foundry discovered he wanted to add an element totally unlike anything anyone in the San Diego area had ever seen in Little Italy. Creative House owns several other properties in the San Diego area, but Doug wanted Nolita Hall to top all the rest. After Doug’s first discussion with Oat Foundry, it became clear he had larger aspirations. He asked about the largest Split Flap we had ever created for inspiration.

His goal? Automatically display information about the flights flying overhead using a Split Flap. In order to meet Doug’s needs as well as fit Nolita’s open-air, European feel, we decided to create a 10R x 32C Split Flap (64.2″ x 93.4″ x 5”). Our team assembled the Split Flap by hand to ensure the highest possible quality. The stock Split Flap font fit perfectly with the modern elements of the beer hall while ensuring readability from anywhere in the venue.

Integrations and Extras

One of the most exciting parts of this project was engaging Oat Foundry’s programming services to create a custom Flight Arrival and Departure API. This Split Flap pulls data about planes landing in San Diego, posting the flight information on the board. Not only does this create conversation amongst customers, but it gives Nolita Hall a completely unique edge – something guests will talk about during their travels.

Installation and Activation

Oat Foundry is proud to offer on-site Split Flap installation anywhere in the world. After ~12 weeks of design and production, John and Luc, Oat Foundry engineers, traveled to San Diego to install this massive Split Flap at Nolita Hall. Within a day, the installation and final testing was completed.

In mid-April 2018, Nolita Hall opened their doors to offer the public wood-fired pizza and other dishes from the oven, as well as 24 beers and a specially crafted cocktail menu. Oat Foundry’s Split Flap welcomed locals and travelers alike to the trendy spot. For the rest of its days, the Nolita Hall Split Flap will display menu items and flights to those enjoying the gourmet menu.

Press and Media

After their installation was complete and Nolita Hall opened, Nolita Hall was featured in Restaurant Development & Design Magazine. The magazine cited Nolita Hall’s ”intimate spots” that provided additional seating aside from the communal tables, including a fireplace lounge located off the main dining room. The article also identified the Split Flap as, “perhaps the coolest design motif,” noting the refreshing change from standard beer hall design and decor. The restaurant has also attracted buzz from publications and sites including Eater, Daily Mail, and San Diego Magazine.

Current Use

Today, Nolita Hall is still using their Split Flap display to engage their patrons at every turn. In addition to the flight information, the team often posts quotes and prompts on their display, then shares images and videos on Instagram for followers to engage. It’s one of our favorite applications of the display in action, and something easily replicated by anyone investing in a Split Flap for their bar or restaurant.

Nolita Hall’s use of social media reflects a growing necessity for bars and restaurants everywhere. A 2024 MGH survey found that, before deciding where to eat, 77% of diners visit a restaurant’s social media, making digital engagement a crucial part of the guest experience. This puts the pressure on the hospitality industry to cater to potential patrons before they walk through the door. Nolita Hall rises to the challenge by using inventive tools like their Split Flap display to create share-worthy moments, maximizing ROI on their purchase and meeting the expectations of today’s connected customers.

To learn more about how bars and restaurants can benefit from a Split Flap display, visit our industry page. Interested in a Split Flap? See how to start your journey with Oat Foundry here.