Tujague’s, New Orleans
RETROFIT TEAM
ARCHITECT: JL Studio Designs
RESTROOM PARTITION DISTRIBUTOR: Waldo Brothers Inc.
MATERIALS
A wide assortment of New Orleans’ colors within this restaurant extends all the way into the second floor’s two restrooms. Described as “traditional New Orleans meets modern flair,” the Mardi Gras-inspired women’s and men’s restrooms feature Scranton Products’ Aria Partitions.
“Used to produce six stalls and two urinal screens, the Aria Partitions were the perfect complement for this project,” says Mary Kay Cowen, president of Waldo Brothers Inc. “They replaced the previous facility’s dated metal partitions with these beautiful emerald green stalls and their raised paneling, which fit seamlessly into the restaurant’s look and feel.”
Made of durable HDPE for commercial and institutional environments, Aria Partitions were developed by Scranton Products to add an enhanced level of comfort and privacy, as well as elegance, warmth and charm, to virtually any enclosed or private room. The partitions reduce sightlines with a continuous edge-mounted hinge and greatly improve aesthetics with a design that does not use face-mounted hinges like traditional bathroom partition systems. Aria Partitions also are resistant to impact, graffiti, corrosion, mildew, bacteria and moisture.
“The grand reopening could not have gone better,” explains Jacquelyn Lindsey, owner and lead designer at JL Studio Designs. “Everyone from Tujague’s loyal customers to its first-time guests loved the experience. Needless to say, the food was spectacular and everyone was mesmerized with every aspect of the restaurant’s new design. The wow factor was everywhere. Some guests even took selfies in the restrooms with the Aria Partitions as a backdrop. Now that’s a design compliment.”
RESTROOM PARTITIONS MANUFACTURER: Scranton Products
THE RETROFIT
Tujague’s, an iconic French Quarter fixture of the New Orleans cultural landscape, has been serving culinary delights to customers for more than 160 years. To stay viable, the owners of the beloved establishment made the difficult decision to relocate the restaurant four blocks upriver. The nation’s third-oldest restaurant now occupies an existing building with three floors and balconies overlooking the steamboats cruising along the Mississippi River.
“A favorite of both locals and tourists since it first opened in 1856, Tujague’s presented us with the formidable task of recreating the restaurant’s long, colorful history and vibe in a new location,” says Jacquelyn Lindsey, owner and lead designer at JL Studio Designs. “This included restoring the restaurant’s Cajun ambiance in a new setting that not only comfortably embraced regulars, but also attracted younger customers desiring a five-star Creole dining experience.”
JL Studio Designs recreated Tujague’s renowned antique standup bar and filled the building’s entire 3-story interior with the former site’s vintage photos, memorabilia, artwork, chandeliers, newspaper clippings and miniature liquor bottle collection. The team also designed the green walls to look heavily aged with a custom faux finish while adding an assortment of gold, ornate mirrors and sconces to provide an extra layer of ambiance and visual flair.
Lindsey explains the meticulous specification of the restaurant’s historic color palette: “We created a very vibrant New Orleans look and feel with a wide assortment of bright and bouncy colors that represent the city’s festive culture. Each tier has its own personality. While the first floor’s white and walnut-stained wall paneling is more traditional, the third is filled with lots of gold and metallics. The brass footrail from the old location was even brought over to provide the same antique feel to the new bar. And then, there’s the second floor, which was designed with a sparkling array of purples, greens and gold accents to mimic the excitement of Mardi Gras.”
PHOTOS: Scranton Products