Lush Bay Plaza & Beyond – Building Bold Retail Environments
When you walk into a Lush store, it’s more than shopping. It’s an experience — vibrant colors, bold graphics, hands-on displays, and a sense of play that makes every visit memorable. For years, we’ve partnered with Lush to bring their unique brand vision to life across North America.
But one project stands out as a milestone: the Lush Bay Plaza store in the Bronx.
A Brand-New Location, A Fresh Vision
This wasn’t just another refresh. The Bay Plaza build was a ground-up store installation in a mall where Lush had never been before. It took nearly 10 months from start to finish, as the site had to be fully built out with a general contractor before we could begin our work.
For us, it was a chance to stretch beyond the familiar and create something truly unique within the Lush retail family.
Our Approach: Tried and True Meets Bold and New
Having worked on multiple Lush projects before, we knew their brand language well — bold vinyl graphics, modular wood fixtures, and immersive installations that bring product storytelling to life.
But Bay Plaza wasn’t a cookie-cutter build. This store introduced new products, new layouts, and new display concepts — most notably the hair consultation area. This dedicated purple space set Bay Plaza apart from every other Lush store we’d done, offering a personalized, service-driven layer to the retail environment.
It was our favorite part of the project because it pushed the boundaries of what a Lush space could be: not just selling, but connecting.
Materials & Techniques
Custom wood fabrication for fixtures and displays
Vibrant vinyl graphics for storytelling walls
Seamless on-site installation
The Challenges: Patience and Persistence
Every large-scale retail build comes with curveballs, and Bay Plaza had its share. The biggest? Scheduling delays. Not because of us — but because when you’re coordinating multiple trades, contractors, and vendors in a brand-new space, timelines shift.
Through it all, we stayed flexible and committed to the client. Our goal was never just to “get it done” but to deliver the kind of space that Lush’s customers (and their team) would be proud of.
Beyond Bay Plaza: The Bigger Story
Bay Plaza was a highlight, but it’s part of a larger narrative. Our partnership with Lush has taken us coast-to-coast, creating bold, colorful spaces that redefine what retail can be:
Barbie Build in Los Angeles: A playful, pink-driven environment for an unforgettable campaign.
Asteroid City in Las Vegas: A cinematic, pop-culture inspired build that blended retail and storytelling.
Store Updates (Portland, Brea, Edmonton, Tysons): Each one unique, each one true to the Lush ethos — fresh, vibrant, and built to delight.
These projects prove that Lush doesn’t just “do” retail. They reinvent it, again and again. And we’re proud to be the ones behind the saws, paint, and installations that make it real.
The Result: A Store That Stands Out
The Bay Plaza store is more than a retail space. It’s a community hub, a brand showcase, and a place of discovery — exactly what Lush set out to achieve. Customers don’t just walk in to shop; they walk in to play, explore, and connect.
For us at Mecca, it was one more reminder that the best projects aren’t just about fabrication. They’re about helping brands tell their story in a way that customers never forget.
From New York to California, we’re proud to keep building environments that make Lush… well, Lush.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
PAUL MECCA is the President of Mecca Design & Production, where he’s been transforming bold ideas into reality since 2006. An expert in out-of-the-box fabrication, Paul has a deep knowledge of materials, methods, and creative problem-solving. He specializes in turning marketing visions into tangible, unforgettable brand experiences.
