EVELYN

Reach Hospitality, a group behind upscale hospitality franchises, introduces a new concept to its portfolio, EVELYN. Inspired by the novel, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, EVELYN is an elegant lounge and restaurant containing seven distinct rooms, welcoming guests to spend a full night from pre-dinner cocktails through to after-dinner disco entertainment.

In an unconventional beginning, Reach Hospitality reached out directly to 1 SOUND in their earlier development stage. Having seen the success of similar-feeling lounges with 1 SOUND systems, they knew EVELYN required high-quality sound with fit and finish, a challenge they were confident 1 SOUND could meet.

Bespoke’s approach not only needed to focus on each room and its individual needs but work towards creating a story that takes place through the night, immersing guests in the upscale experience.

“The dining room has a classical, refined feel to it.” This space was meant to play background music for diners as well as have live pianists. “We deployed four of 1 SOUND’s FSUB45 floor subs alongside several Cannon C6 loudspeakers,” he said.

Bespoke Technology then moved on to the large bar area with a high-energy late-night vibe. “The entire room is all curved ceilings and covered in velvet fabric, so it was built almost perfectly for the addition of a sound system.” Bespoke implemented a high-fidelity design in full stereo, deploying Cannon C6 speakers and eight recessed SUB310 subwoofers, which the installer revealed are “one of my favourite products from 1 SOUND.”

For the lounge, a disco and dancing zone, two Contour CT28 point sources were integrated across the bar, and some C6s were positioned across the room’s perimeter to manage delay and echo. This was paired with two SUB215s with two SUB12s for fill. Bespoke mounted two Cannon C5s as the DJ booth monitors. “It sounds phenomenal,” Ayache commented.

Outside of these main spaces, Bespoke deployed Cannon loudspeakers and WSUB45s in the private dining/event room and VIP spaces. Cannons are even deployed in the women’s restroom to keep the elevated high-energy “vibe” when doing glam touchups, complementing their mirror stage and vanities. Custom Cannon C4’s are deployed outside to greet guests as they enter into the EVELYN experience.

Amplification was provided by Powersoft Quattrocanalis and Duecanalis. The installer remarked, “Powersoft’s been a great partner to us over the years. It’s always my first choice for amplifiers.”

1 SOUND introduced Reach Hospitality to a trusted Dealer in the area, Bespoke Technology Group, who went on to design and implement all of the audio and visual components for EVELYN. Phil Ayache, President of Bespoke Technology Group, took on the challenge of bringing the EVELYN concept to life for the first time, explaining, “From the very first meeting with the owners and Lou, it became very apparent that every aspect of EVELYN was being built around having the greatest sound possible. The materials used to furnish and finish the rooms, and even the way the venue was constructed, it was all in aid of curating the best acoustic environment.” He continued, “For this project, the way the space sounded was the most important consideration. As an audiophile, I love working with clients who have this mindset.”

Each of the seven rooms had distinct and different requirements for the audio. The biggest challenge was not just satisfying the need for each room independently and the feelings they were meant to elicit for the guest, but making all the spaces work together to tell a cohesive story and have an experiential journey for a guest throughout the evening. Through collaboration with Reach Hospitality to thoroughly understand the experience they wanted to create and resourcing 1 SOUND, Bespoke was able to blend and transition the spaces together sonically to help curate the feeling a guest has going room to room.

When it came to installation, the aesthetic and attention to fit and finishes were paramount to Reach Hospitality. Bespoke Technology worked together with the interior designer and 1 SOUND’s Custom Shop, encouraging them to go above and beyond, finishing the loudspeakers as interior design elements themselves in the space.

Through communication and collaboration with 1 SOUND’s Custom Shop department, Bespoke Technology’s audiovisual integration ultimately exceeded the already high expectations set by Reach Hospitality, elevating their vision and succeeding in bringing this new concept to life.

EVELYN opened its doors to immediate success, quickly earning recognition as the top-tier destination for a night out in Texas. A key factor in this achievement was Bespoke Technology Group’s dedication to customer service, ongoing support, and their deep understanding of EVELYN’s creative vision. By translating the brief—centered on delivering a premium experience in every detail—into a thoughtfully crafted audio design, Bespoke helped bring the story of Evelyn Hugo to life, fully immersing guests in a world of glamour.

In an unorthodox introduction to the project, Reach Hospitality scouted and chose 1 SOUND because they had heard the high-quality sound and, after speaking with them, trusted that the manufacturer would be able to bring the aesthetic vision to life. The 1 SOUND Custom Shop is the first and only pro-audio manufacturer that has a department dedicated to this level of custom collaboration and support. The Custom Shop matched the exact shades, working with the interior designer, and finished the units in seven different colours, allowing them to seamlessly blend into their positions as well as stand out in certain bar areas as art elements themselves.

Ayache said, “Companies like 1 SOUND are few and far between. They allow us to get really creative with our customisation, making them a fantastic partner. Nothing is impossible with Lou Mannarino. Apart from a couple of speakers outside the bathroom, every part of the system for EVELYN has been treated with 1 SOUND Custom Shop.”

Now, thanks to the partnership between 1 SOUND, Ayache, and his team, EVELYN has opened with excellent reviews and high-fidelity audio. Ayache concluded: “Reach Hospitality was a wonderful client as they gave us so much creative freedom, but they still had a really strong vision. Excitingly, we’re now working on two other projects with them, and obviously, they’re going to be equipped with 1 SOUND solutions!”

The major success of this project is due to the thoughtful guest experience that can be created when creative thinkers align on the outcome and work together across disciplines and go above and beyond for the vision as a whole.