2019 Archive : Rao’s Pop Up Restaurant

Project Details

Fabric 1

Vinyl
Producer: Losenberger US LLC
Supplier: Losenberger US LLC

Engineer Name 1
Sebastian Alonso

Engineer Company 1
Beachview Event Rentals & Design

Design Name
Elizabeth Veal

Design Company
Beachview Event Rentals & Design

Subcontractor Name
Rolf Lundberg

Subcontractor Company
Our Wooden House

Graphics Name
Kent Harrison

Graphics Company
CopyRight Inc

Project Manager Name
Sebastian Alonso

Project Manager Company
Beachview Event Rentals & Design

Installation Name
Rao's Pop Up Restaurant

Installation Company
Beachview Event Rentals & Design

Please describe the project specifications

The original Rao’s on 114th St. in East Harlem, New York City, the legendary and exclusive eatery established in 1896, was recreated in Chamblee, GA, for Super Bowl LIII in a hospitality program with Wheels Up, a private aviation company. VIPs, special guests and talent were invited for pop-up dinners by Rao’s executive chef Dino Gatto over three nights leading up to the big game.
The exterior of the building featured Rao’s signature red façade and authentic street signage (complete with a copy of an actual flyer that exists currently on a street post outside the real eatery). Adjacent to it was an LED screen that displayed the street scene surrounding Rao’s in New York complete with lights and sounds that transitioned from day to night. The interior replicated that of Rao’s with the same tables, chairs and fabrics, the same plates and silverware, and photos of famous patrons hanging on dark, stained wood-paneled walls. On Saturday, Feb. 2, Wheels Up hosted the Wheels Up Super Saturday Tailgate on an adjacent lot that attracted 2,000 people, and included, of course, meatballs and sauce served from the Rao's porch.

What was the purpose of this project? What did the client request?

The event program is a venture between Wheels Up and Rao’s Restaurant Group that came to fruition in 2018 as a hospitality experience at The Masters in Augusta, GA. The Beachview team was tasked with creating a replica of the iconic restaurant for Wheels Up to entertain VIP guests.

What is unique or complex about the project?

Rao's is a unique establishment in that you may only dine if you own a table. To replicate the exclusivity of the dining experience only 100 guests are invited to the pop up experience as there are only 100 seats at the New York location. Attention to detail was a must as Christmas decor is left up year round and guests enter to the back of the bar. The layout mirrors the original with the same number of booths and tables. Vintage frames adorn the walls with images of famous guests who have dined.

What were the results of the project?

Press coverage was outstanding for the event as Biz Bash and Event Marketer wrote articles highlighting the pop-up as the event of the week! The original pop-up was conceived for the 2018 Masters, it was so successful that three nights were incorporated into the Super Bowl programming for Wheels Up. We will be erecting the pop up once again at the 2019 Masters and plans are already in the works for the 2020 Super Bowl.

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