For two decades, Beth Katz has helped turn her clients’ visions into reality. Whether it’s a cheese shop, a casino sportsbook, an upscale restaurant, or a cookie dough shop, Katz has positioned her firm to provide design solutions that highlight her clients’ brand personalities. Katz, Founder and Principal of KatzDesignGroup, is celebrating the 20th anniversary of her award-winning company that specializes in hospitality-inspired interior design. KatzDesignGroup focuses on restaurant interiors, casino and hotel design, medical offices, and workplace interiors.
LEARN MORE: Meet the Most Influential Women in CRE
“We take intangible ideas such as branding and create tangible high-concept physical spaces,” she said.
Katz began her interior design career in Boston where she worked for Visnick & Caulfield Associates. A relocation to Arizona created an opportunity when several of her clients convinced her to open her own firm, telling her they would hire her to work on their national projects.
With much of her experience in workplace interiors, but a passion for restaurant interiors, Katz asked a friend to allow her to design the new restaurant that they were opening in Old Town Scottsdale. The restaurant became a huge success, which led to Katz designing four additional restaurants for their restaurant group.
KatzDesignGroup signature projects spanning the past 20 years include Café Carumba, .406 Ventures, Arizona Organix, Casino Del Sol sportsbook, The Gladly, Latha, ISOS Technology, Mochilero Kitchen, The Parlay Kitchen and Cocktails, Scoopwell’s Dough Bar, Shea Cheese, Territory Dispensary, Arizona Transplant, Arizona Integrative Medicine & Spa, St. Amand Kitchen & Cocktails, and East Valley Urology.
KatzDesignGroup provides space planning, FF&E specification, custom furniture and millwork design; construction documents; construction administration; art specification, visual rendering and 3D animation; finish selection; and digital concept and presentation boards.
“My goal is to create spaces in which special things can happen. Every part of my design exudes new concepts of creativity, connectiveness, and personal excellence,” Katz said. “When I meet with a client to discuss their goals and space, I always make sure I meet with a cross section of employees. For a restaurant, it may be that I meet with the proprietor, the chef, a bartender, cook, and the bussers.
“I want to enable everyone to be successful in their positions. Their input makes the restaurant better and me better as a designer. That also goes for subcontractors. I ask questions about how they can take my design and make it better and more efficient. They are so happy to share their expertise and it results in a better product,” she said.
Katz has been recognized on both national and local levels for her design work and business leadership. The Network of Executive Women in Hospitality (NEWH) has recognized her with three awards – 2021 Best Stand-Alone Restaurant, 2022 Best Spa and Wellness Center, and the prestigious 2022 Top ID.
The 2022 Top Interior Design (Top ID) award is determined by individual NEWH chapters and regional boards to recognize design excellence and promote design firms engaged in supporting NEWH and its mission of scholarship and education. The Top ID award is presented annually to three firms in the region. Katz was also named to AZRE magazine’s 2018 Most Influential Women in Commercial Real Estate.
Katz is also active among Valley industry groups. She has been an active member of AZCREW for 13 years and has served on the Special Events Committee since 2015. Katz has served on the NEWH Board since 2020. She serves on the Board for Scholarship and Student Relations and mentors’ students at Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, and Grand Canyon University.
Katz gives back to the community. She has served on the Board and Executive Board of UMOM New Day Centers for 10 years, is a TGEN Ambassador, and founder of Team Frank, raising money to fight pancreatic cancer yearly since 2008.
“I have always said that my ‘superpower’ is being a connector. I want my peers, my competitors, and my colleagues to excel. There is room for all of us to be successful.”
For more information visit katzdesigngroup.com.
