res antiqua.
Looking at the past to create the new.
Looking at the past to create the new.
A practice across retail, hospitality, design, art, and coffee. Creating enduring spaces, brands, and programs.
Douglas Wolfe spent more than two decades helping build and shape La Colombe, from its early years in Philadelphia through its expansion into New York and other major markets.
After moving to California, Wolfe joined Sightglass Coffee to help lead its Los Angeles flagship, working across operations, financial performance, menu development, and the evolution of the business. He later served as Chief Operating Officer of Dayglow.
He founded Res Antiqua in 2026 as an independent practice working with consumer brands across retail, hospitality, and the physical environment.
Things of quality have no fear of time.
Second person hired, later Partner. Led the development of the first four New York cafes and established the design language and operating systems carried into nine additional locations across four cities.
The work extended beyond the cafes themselves into collaborations, environments, and objects developed through La Colombe, including projects with Ralph Lauren, Ojas, and Herman Miller.
Hand-painted gold leaf signage. Moroccan Zellige tile. Custom black ceramics made by a century-old Majolica house in Italy. Stone, millwork, furniture, and objects developed specifically for each location.
Photography is my parallel discipline. I distill information to its essence to create a visual language — a practice that informs my work across design and development. My work is held in the permanent collection of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Independent advisory practice developing enduring consumer brands through retail, hospitality and the physical environment.
If this is you, please reach out.