Pink Taco
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Pink Taco is a Mexican restaurant chain that has earned notoriety[1] for its name, which is the same as a slang term for a human vagina. The president and CEO, Harry Morton, contends it comes from a menu item[2] and claims that if the restaurant were truly "vagina-themed" there would be "vaginas all over the walls."[3]
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[edit] Locations
Pink Taco currently has three locations open. The first one opened [4] at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.[5] The other is in Scottsdale, Arizona. A third location opened on June 28, 2007 in Century City, Los Angeles, California.[6] Other locations set to open later in 2008 include San Diego, California and Huntington Beach, California.
[edit] 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, of which three were anonymous, 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.[1]
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, Mary Beth Hollmann, raised an objection at the meeting, saying the name "demeans and degrades women." The state agency has not received any complaints.[7]
The restaurant has gained media attention from the controversy, and people from the cable television shows The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and Mind of Mencia contacted the restaurant for interviews. These requests were initially turned down.[7] However, the Pink Taco and a woman who opposed the name were both later featured on a report by Ed Helms on the June 27, 2006 episode of The Daily Show, which included an interview with Harry Morton.[8] The restaurant was also mentioned on the May 20, 2006 showing of Saturday Night Live as part of its "Weekend Update" skit.[9]
In August 2006, Morton offered $30 million for the naming rights to the Arizona Cardinals' new stadium in Glendale, Arizona.[10] The offer was subsequently 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.[11]
[edit] References
- ^ a b "Pink Taco Restaurant Name Causes Stir", CBS, May 16, 2006.
- ^ Wright, Lesley. "Council gives OK for eatery liquor license", The Arizona Republic, May 16, 2006.
- ^ The Daily Show. "Box Lunch." Ed Helms. Produced by Bronwen Epstein. Edited by Einar Westerlund.
- ^ Katsilometes, John. "Columnist John Katsilometes: Eateries need the right name", Las Vegas Sun, May 30, 1999.
- ^ Finnerty, Megan. "Suggestive name puts eatery, city at odds", The Arizona Republic, Apr. 22, 2006.
- ^ Pink Taco (HTML). Retrieved on 2007-06-08.
- ^ a b Athens, Jonathan. "Restaurant name spurs TV interest", East Valley Tribune, May 18, 2006.
- ^ The Daily Show. "Box Lunch." Ed Helms. Produced by Bronwen Epstein. Edited by Einar Westerlund.
- ^ Fey, Tina (Cast), Amy Poehler (Cast). (2006). Saturday Night Live [TV-Series]. United States: National Broadcasting Company.
- ^ Villalobos, Louie. "Pink Taco's owners make bid to name Cards stadium." Arizona Republic. August 21, 2006. Retrieved on August 21, 2006.
- ^ Mackel, Fletcher. "Pink Taco Wants Naming Rights to Superdome." WDSU. September 28, 2006. Retrieved on September 29, 2006.
