Introduction to Carnitas Uruapan
LITTLE VILLAGE — A Latina-owned design firm is being recognized for its work creating the interior of a beloved carnitas restaurant’s recently opened second location in Little Village.
The Design Firm and Its Work
Chicago designer Aida Napoles’ firm, AGN Design, has been nominated for a Hospitality Design Award for her work designing the interior of Carnitas Uruapan’s newest restaurant in Little Village, 3801 W. 26th St. It is among six finalists in the best interior design of a casual restaurant category.
The Designer’s Background and Inspiration
Napoles, who grew up in suburban Cicero while frequenting Little Village’s bustling commercial corridor, teamed with owner Marcos Carbajal to create the space, which they wanted to reflect the restaurant and neighborhood’s history and the area’s deep connections to Mexico.
Details of the party room of Carnitas Uruapan, the beloved Pilsen carnitas restaurant that is set to open at 3801 W. 26th St. in Little Village, as seen on Jan. 6, 2025. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago
The Restaurant’s History and Evolution
Carnitas Uruapan is an iconic family-owned Southwest Side spot that, when it started in the ’70s, relied on secondhand items for furniture — a far cry from the carefully designed look Napoles and Carbajal brought to life for the newest location.
The Design Award and Its Significance
Being nominated for the award is an honor for Napoles, who in 2018 “took a leap” and started her own design studio after years working in corporate design firms, the entrepreneur said.
“It made me very proud,” Napoles said. “It’s not always that you get to hear a casual Mexican restaurant, owned and operated by a Latino [get nominated]. It just means a lot on all different levels.”
The Design Process and Inspiration
Through AGN Studio, Napoles has worked to make design attainable for businesses of all sizes and budgets, helping grow and transform Chicago’s hospitality industry, she said.
“Good design is for everybody,” she said. “Good design also doesn’t need to break the bank.”
The proud daughter of Mexican immigrants from the state of Jalisco, Napoles is thankful to her family for supporting her throughout the “crazy and beautifully chaotic rollercoaster” of owning and leading a design firm that is contributing to the evolution of the Chicago hospitality scene, she said.
The Restaurant’s Design and Features
Napoles’ clients have included Chicago restaurants such as La Josie, Diego, Au Levain Bakery & Cafe, Umaga and The Levie. Napoles has designed spaces to tell a story and provide customers a unique experience, she said.
“I focus on those projects, doing design that’s more personal and really being able to be part of the whole storytelling from the beginning,” she said.
With Carnitas Uruapan, Napoles looked to use details, materials and art that honored the restaurant’s decades-long legacy, Mexican roots and its new home in Little Village, she said.
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