HOT BENNYS
“We love you guys! ”
— AKA Studio
channel letters • blade signage
vinyl murals • dimensional logos
wayfinding
the client
Hot Bennys is a teardrop-sized, buzzy beignet café in New Orleans known for serving freshly-fried beignets alongside bold coffee and a lively NOLA vibe.
A new concept from the owners of Willie’s Chicken Shack, with brand elements thoughtfully designed by AKA studio, the brand’s first location was cuter than a button (but barely bigger than one): a petite freestanding space with nearly 360-degrees of pedestrian and hotel visibility tucked against the DoubleTree Hotel at the base of bustling Canal Street.
the project
Hot Bennys arrived with an irresistibly cute brand package crafted by AKA Studio, complete with hand-drawn lettering, a playful logo, and a cast of colorful, dancing beignet characters that practically bounce off the page. The identity felt sweet, joyful, and a little mischievous in the best possible New Orleans way.
Our job at OPA Signs & Graphics was to help that personality pop into real life. We translated the whimsical typography and animated little beignets into dimensional signage and environmental graphics that felt handcrafted, bright, and full of movement, making sure the tiny space on Canal Street radiated the same charm and energy as the brand itself.
Intent mattered just as much as execution. The space had previously been a sterile, minimalist yogurt shop, and while it offered a prominent, window-wrapped footprint flooded with natural light, it lacked warmth and character. We wanted to fill the interior with color and glow without making it feel cluttered, embracing the airy openness and ensuring fixtures were bold enough to be seen from the street, yet playful and delicate enough to feel whimsical.
solution
OPA’s signage solution for Hot Benny’s was all about translating charm into dimension and glow.
Two channel letter sets were fabricated for river- and city-facing frontages, featuring the brand’s hand-drawn wordmark, allowing the imperfect, playful lettering to feel bold and confident against the bustling Canal Street backdrop.
Just beneath, on the building's only side lacking windows, a matte green cut vinyl dancing beignet second line animates the tempered milk glass exterior adding movement, personality, and interest.
Inside and out, the brand’s mascot takes center stage. An interior-mounted bright, glowing purple neon Hot Benny character radiates energy day or night, acting as both beacon and photo moment, while non-illuminated dimensional beignet characters are thoughtfully placed throughout the interior. These sculptural elements fill the once-sterile space with branded art that feels whimsical and expressive rather than overly polished or corporate, keeping the environment airy, joyful, and true to the hand-drawn spirit of the identity.
Anchoring the entire program is a large, warm yellow glowing blade sign that projects proudly into the streetscape, capturing pedestrian and vehicular attention from multiple angles. Every element, down to the smallest accent, was finished in Hot Benny’s signature lilac and green, creating a cohesive, candy-colored palette that turns a tiny retail footprint into a luminous, unmistakable presence on Canal Street.