From the Archives: Toro Taco Before & After!
Seriously though, who doesn’t love tacos? So when we were given the opportunity to add our own design flavour to the newest addition to Market Square, Toro Taco, we picked up our forks, put on our bibs, and dug in.
Toro Taco is the brainchild of Peter Stoddart and Jesse Vergen! This takeaway offers fresh tacos, burritos, salads and rice bowls using unique, chef-influenced recipes, replete with fresh ingredients, inspired sauces, and more. Additionally, Toro Taco has plenty of options for vegetarians and vegans. (As the vegetarian owner of Tuck says, “It’s one place where they actually honour vegetarians, not punish us!”) Located in Saint John’s Market Square next to its sister company, Barred Rock, Toro Taco immediately became a popular food destination in the heart of Saint John.
Having worked with Pete and Jesse in the past at the Saint John Ale House (See: SJAH Extreme Makeover Before & After, The Oh! Room, and our most recent collaboration, Design of Thrones) and Jesse’s own home with his wife Kimberly , we knew that this project was going to be a blast!
BEFORE
THANK YOU AND ACCOLADES
Our clients: Jesse Vergen /Peter Stoddart
Contractors: Jonathan Wilkins (Peace of Mind Management)
Graphic Design/ Logos: Katie Goodz (3 O’Clock)
Cactus Wall Decals: Lise Hansen (Bonfire)
Tiles from Tuck, Installed by Wayne McCluskey
Interior Design & Creative Direction:Tuck Interiors / Judith Mackin
All photography by Kelly Lawson
Toro Taco/ Barred Rock Staff
AFTER
(all photos by Kelly Lawson)
Organic elements were used throughout for both inspiration and visual integrity. With the amount of fresh and locally sourced ingredients used, it was only fitting that the design should mirror the business.
The face of Toro Taco was covered in with a knotted pine board and Ceragres Hexa Porcelain wall tiles were installed to mimic the shape of mountains. Pops of colour were added to individual tiles by painting them Benjamin Moore Bulls Eye Red.
We enlisted the services of Lise Hansen for the hand drawn cactus wall decals. Backlit cinema style signs (from Josh Devine at Atlantic Signs) were brought in to display Toro Taco’s customizable menu options.
EQ3 Pendants were hung above the food preparation station to add soft lighting and a touch of industrial material. Pendants available through Tuck.
The design would not be complete without plenty of cactus plants!
