Pink Taco

Pink Taco is a restaurant chain in Los Angeles, California, with locations in West Hollywood on the Sunset Strip and in Century City, located on the premises of the Westfield Century City mall. It serves Mexican food.

Pink Taco
Private
IndustryCasual dining restaurants
Founded1999 (1999)
FounderHarry Morton 
HeadquartersLos Angeles, California, United States
Key people
Harry Morton (founder and CEO)
WebsitePink Taco website

Locations

The first Pink Taco restaurant was opened in 1999 at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Paradise, Nevada.[1][2] A second location in Scottsdale, Arizona met with controversy and remained open for less than three years, between 2006 and 2009. A third location opened on June 28, 2007 in Century City, Los Angeles, California.[3] In 2018, a location opened up in Chicago's Near North Side neighborhood.[4]

Name controversy

The name has caused controversy in Scottsdale, Arizona, where the restaurant attempted to open a second location. In response, the city government received four emails complaining about the name. This generated a complaint from Mayor Mary Manross who said she was offended, although she did not see the name in a sexual way until the complaints were raised. She asked the owner to change the name, but he refused.[5]

On May 15, 2006, the Scottsdale City Council, by a unanimous vote, recommended the restaurant for a liquor license from the Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control. One resident raised an objection at the meeting, saying the name "demeans and degrades women." The state agency said it had not received any complaints.[6] The Scottsdale location closed on April 1, 2009.[7]

The restaurant quickly gained the attention of the media, and was soon contacted by representatives from The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and Mind of Mencia with requests for interviews, which were initially turned down.[6] President and CEO Harry Morton appeared on the June 27, 2006, episode of The Daily Show, which also featured a story on the controversy by reporter Ed Helms. During his interview, Morton explained that the name comes from a menu item, and that if the restaurant were truly "vagina-themed", there would be "vaginas all over the walls".[8]

In August 2006, Morton announced a $30 million bid for the naming rights to the Arizona Cardinals' new stadium in Glendale, Arizona.[9] The offer was rejected by the Cardinals, who dismissed the announcement as a joke and a publicity stunt. On September 28, 2006, Pink Taco launched a similar bid to rename the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans to the "Pink Taco Dome." As the State of Louisiana owns the Superdome, any name change must be approved by the Louisiana State Legislature.[10][11]

gollark: And not just vast quantities of undertrained infantry?
gollark: Don't modern militaries mostly require specialists *anyway*?
gollark: Do you know what "arbitrary" means?
gollark: Sense of community: any team activity ever.Making friends: any team activity ever.Educating people: school, somewhat.Discipline: don't know, probably can be figured out.
gollark: You can do those WITHOUT forcing people to spend time in the military, via optional things?

See also
  • Hooters, another restaurant which has met with controversy for its name

References
  1. Katsilometes, John (May 30, 1999). "Columnist John Katsilometes: Eateries need the right name". Las Vegas Sun. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007.
  2. Finnerty, Megan (April 22, 2006). "Suggestive name puts eatery, city at odds". The Arizona Republic. Archived from the original on November 20, 2006.
  3. "Pink Taco". Retrieved 2007-06-08.
  4. "Inside Pink Taco Chicago, Feeding River North Lobster Tacos and $18 Margaritas". Chicago Eater. April 3, 2018.
  5. "Pink Taco Restaurant Name Causes Stir". CBS. May 16, 2006. Archived from the original on September 16, 2006.
  6. Athens, Jonathan (May 18, 2006). "Restaurant name spurs TV interest". East Valley Tribune. Archived from the original on June 15, 2006.
  7. Corbett, Peter (April 1, 2009). "Pink Taco, Glendale's Fox Sports Grill close". Arizona Republic. Retrieved July 30, 2012.
  8. Helms, Ed (June 27, 2006). "Box Lunch". The Daily Show. Producer: Bronwen Epstein, Editor: Einar Westerlund.
  9. Villalobos, Louie (August 21, 2006). "Pink Taco's owners make bid to name Cards stadium". Arizona Republic. Retrieved August 21, 2006.
  10. Mackel, Fletcher (September 28, 2006). "Pink Taco Wants Naming Rights to Superdome". WDSU. Retrieved September 29, 2006 – via yahoo.com.
  11. Bernstone, Jeff (July 29, 2019). "Despite Its Name, Pink Taco Chain to Open in the Seaport". uptoboston.com. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
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