Aile is a Brazilian and Turkish quick service restaurant serving the people of downtown Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Through real-deal ingredients, classic preparation and creation, and a storied approach to modern meal-time culture, Aile wants to use the QSR model in an unconventional way.

Your Lancaster Lunchtime Staple

Brand Identity
Merchandise

A recent survey conducted on lunch time habits in the 9-5 world showed that 40% of working adults don’t take their lunch breaks, with nearly half of respondents saying they skip lunch once a week. This can be due to a slew of reasons, but all revolve around the fast pace and over abundance of deadlines, meetings, and time crunches. As Aile formed its brand, it simmered down to one primary question: How do we reach the working adults of Lancaster with an authentic and efficient lunch experience?

Problem

Aile found they need a REAL DEAL food quality and preparation, a CLASSIC take on the QSR model, and a STORIED experience, rich in heritage. Taking the unintentional brand identity found in hole-in-the-wall restaurants, Aile elevates authentic visuals to match the vibrant cuisine demographic of Lancaster. Customers are met with an experience that utilizes the concept of home-cooking and familial vernacular. From large to small touchpoints, the Aile brand is heavily informed by traditional craft, from Turkish textiles, to Brazilian art, or from Americana sign painting, to artisan Lancaster culture. Aile, which means "family” in Turkish, places the emphasis on “Family Over Work,” bringing the slowed-down, home-cooked lunch to the fast-paced, working world.

Solution

As working adults in the downtown area, Lucas and Ilyada saw a lack of quality, office-sized lunch options. After the pandemic, they decided to start following their passions in their natural area of expertise: cooking. Starting their Central Market booth in 2018, they have become a staple of the Lancaster lunchtime scene. To them, Lancaster is a hub for cultural and familial heritage. This past year, they were able to open a brick and mortar location just a block away. They continue to cultivate family-style quick service in their restaurant, befriending each and every patron that steps foot in the joint.