Various cocktails and glasses with garnishes on a bar counter with a colorful, semi-circular patterned background.

Little Tijuana Neighborhood Lounge

Sitting at the intersection of nostalgia and what could happen next, Little T’s is a world within Minneapolis. Pairing one of the best cocktail programs in town with globally-inspired bar food, it’s a place you go to find yourself or find something new. So come in, stay awhile, and most importantly, don’t be an asshole.

Photos: ALC, Gene Pease

  • The previous iteration of Little Tijuana had primarily been a late night dive bar. With new owners and an emphasis on affordability, quality, and inclusion, my task was to reimagine the space as a destination on Minneapolis’ famous Eat Street.

  • Since the name was remaining the same, it was important that the new brand had enough charisma to stand on its own. Working with the ownership team, we pulled inspiration from bars we had visited while traveling in places like New York, Quebec, and Berlin. This spot needed to feel like a vacation from reality. We accomplished this on the interior with moody lighting, custom neon signage, and distinct dining, bar, and communal spaces. Adding to the feeling of escape, the visuals revolve around the now iconic “Cheeky Sun” mascot, which pushes boundaries just enough to give people permission to smile, relax, and enjoy everything the moment has to offer.

  • Creative Direction
    Art Direction
    Copywriting
    Illustration
    Design
    Merch
    Custom Font

A yellow background poster with a cartoon sun character wearing black boots, with a smiling face and a finger to its lips. Text reads "Little Tijuana" in cursive, with smaller text "Neighborhood Lounge" and "South Minneapolis."
A yellow background poster with a cartoon sun character wearing black boots, with a smiling face and a finger to its lips. Text reads "Little Tijuana" in cursive, with smaller text "Neighborhood Lounge" and "South Minneapolis."
A cocktail in a coupe glass with a salted rim, featuring a black goat logo on the side, placed on a wooden surface with colorful light reflections.
Close-up of two restaurant menus and two coasters on a table.
A bar scene with three yellow bar stools in the foreground and a blurred person behind the counter. The background shows windows with bottles and a patterned wall illuminated by pink and purple lighting.
A person’s hand reaching for food on a table with various dishes, including bowls of colorful ingredients and a cocktail.
Neon sign for a cocktail bar.
Text on a dark gray background that says "Little Tijuana" in cursive gold font, "LITTLE T's" in block letters inside a rectangle, and a circular gold sunburst icon.
Icons of a cocktail glass, a tall glass, a wine glass, a short glass, and a glass with a lightning bolt indicating energy or power, all in black on a pink background.
A white T-shirt with a black graphic design featuring a cartoon sun character wearing a visor, grilling a steak, with the text "Little Tijuana" and "Neighborhood Lounge" and the address at the bottom.
A cartoon illustration of a yellow sun with a face and limbs. The sun has a playful expression, holding a coy finger to its lips. It wears red boots and is set against a dark background.

Little Tijuana Neighborhood Lounge

Sitting at the intersection of nostalgia and what could happen next, Little T’s is a world within Minneapolis. Pairing one of the best cocktail programs in town with globally-inspired bar food, it’s a place you go to find yourself or find something new. So come in, stay awhile, and most importantly, don’t be an asshole.

Photos: ALC, Gene Pease

  • The previous iteration of Little Tijuana had primarily been a late night dive bar. With new owners and an emphasis on affordability, quality, and inclusion, my task was to reimagine the space as a destination on Minneapolis’ famous Eat Street.

  • Since the name was remaining the same, it was important that the new brand had enough charisma to stand on its own. Working with the ownership team, we pulled inspiration from bars we had visited while traveling in places like New York, Quebec, and Berlin. This spot needed to feel like a vacation from reality. We accomplished this on the interior with moody lighting, custom neon signage, and distinct dining, bar, and communal spaces. Adding to the feeling of escape, the visuals revolve around the now iconic “Cheeky Sun” mascot, which pushes boundaries just enough to give people permission to smile, relax, and enjoy everything the moment has to offer.

  • Creative Direction
    Art Direction
    Copywriting
    Illustration
    Design
    Merch
    Custom Font

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