Located inside the historic Penn Stroud Hotel in downtown Stroudsburg, Maple & Mug was envisioned as a modern café that could serve both the local community and hotel guests. Stellen Design partnered with the ownership team to develop the concept from the ground up, creating the name, brand strategy, visual identity, and design direction for a warm, welcoming café that feels timeless without feeling traditional.
Maple & Mug
The Challenge
As part of the newly restored Penn Stroud Hotel, the café needed an identity that honored the character of the historic building while introducing something fresh to downtown Stroudsburg. The goal wasn’t to recreate a nostalgic coffee shop, but to create a destination that felt current, approachable, and inviting—a place where locals would gather regularly and travelers would immediately feel at home.
Our Approach
Rather than leaning into a rustic or vintage interpretation of “cozy,” we looked to Scandinavian design for inspiration. Clean typography, geometric pattern work, and folk-inspired floral illustrations created a visual language that feels warm without feeling dated. The name Maple & Mug reinforces comfort and familiarity, while the brand system brings a modern simplicity that extends naturally across signage, packaging, menus, and the café interior.
The Result
The result is a distinctive café brand that feels equally at home inside a historic hotel and within the evolving downtown community. Maple & Mug offers locals a welcoming everyday gathering place while giving hotel guests an authentic experience that feels rooted in Stroudsburg rather than designed solely for tourists. The identity strikes a balance between modern design and genuine hospitality, creating a brand built to serve the community for years to come.
Words From Our Client
