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Pink Taco - Reclaimed Doug Fir Revolving Gate
Project: Pink Taco Restaurant
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Product: Douglas Fir Revolving 'Castle Gate'
Pink Taco restaurateur Harry Morton cares as much about design, marketing and buzz as he does about food – maybe more, maybe a lot more – which is why TerraMai was asked to custom build a one-of-a-kind, revolving gate entryway for the new Los Angeles location.
The enormous Douglas fir timbers used for the project came from the old Napa Pipe Factory in Napa, CA. The gate, which was the vision of designer Warwick Stone, was fabricated at TerraMai’s facility in McCloud, CA.
Morton comes from a distinguished line off restaurateurs. His father, Peter Morton, is the co-founder of the Hard Rock Café and Casino. His grandfather, Arnie Morton, is the founder of the famed Morton’s Steakhouse chain.
Harry, however, is known as much for his social life as his Pink Taco restaurants. He has been romantically linked to a number of female celebrities, including a high-profile relationship with actress Lindsey Lohan.
The original Pink Taco opened in Las Vegas in 2000. Morton generated controversy with his second Pink Taco in Scottsdale, AZ, prompting a number of local residents to protest the establishment’s name. The LA restaurant is the third location.
Say what you want about Morton, he knows how to market. How many other restaurants get coverage from Vanity Fair, The Daily Show, Saturday Night Live’s Weekend Update, Us Weekly – just for starters?
Reclaimed wood, especially custom milled and fabricated products, are being increasingly used on projects such as the Pink Taco – projects that look to generate buzz and set themselves far apart from the ordinary. Reclaimed wood offers uniqueness, story and other attributes not available in conventional design products.
TerraMai specializes in the sort of one-of-a-kind installations typified by the Pink Taco’s signature entry gate. The woods, the experience, the know-how, the resources – this unique combination of assets distinguishes TerraMai. Beyond that, simply knowing our gate was touched by Jessica Alba at the restaurant’s opening-night bash justifies the effort we put into it.