Pink Taco
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Restaurant |
| Founded | 1999 |
| Founder | Harry Morton |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles , United States |
Area served | United States |
| Products | Mexican dishes |
Pink Taco is a privately owned dining chain headquartered in Los Angeles, California, featuring establishments in West Hollywood along the Sunset Strip and within the Westfield Century City shopping center in Century City. The restaurant focuses on serving Mexican dishes.
Locations
The inaugural Pink Taco venue was launched in 1999 at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino located in Paradise, Nevada. Between 2006 and 2009, a second site operated in Scottsdale, Arizona, which eventually closed following public backlash. A third restaurant opened its doors on June 28, 2007, in Century City, Los Angeles, California. In 2018, Pink Taco broadened its presence by establishing a location in Chicago’s Near North Side district.
Name controversy
The Scottsdale branch became the center of dispute because of its name, eliciting objections from local officials such as Mayor Mary Manross, who urged for a renaming that the proprietor refused to implement. Although concerns were raised about the name being offensive and disrespectful toward women, the Scottsdale City Council unanimously supported granting a liquor license to the establishment. The relevant state authority reported no official grievances. Ultimately, the Scottsdale outlet ceased operations on April 1, 2009.
The issue attracted media coverage, with Pink Taco’s founder and CEO Harry Morton appearing on The Daily Show on June 27, 2006, where he explained that the restaurant’s name was derived from a menu item rather than representing a thematic concept.
In August 2006, Morton proposed a $30 million offer to acquire naming rights for the Arizona Cardinals’ new stadium in Glendale, Arizona; this proposal was widely regarded as a marketing tactic. Later in September 2006, Pink Taco suggested renaming the Louisiana Superdome as the "Pink Taco Dome," subject to approval by the Louisiana State Legislature.
See also
- Hooters, another dining establishment noted for controversy surrounding its name