New Mighty Taco ads have the 'Wright' stuff

Business First

The crafty and clever folks at Mighty Taco and its advertising agency, Paragon Advertising, have done it again.
In what may be one of their funniest tray liners, the Mighty Taco/Paragon team are having some fun at one of the region's architectural landmarks, the Darwin Martin House.
The tray liner, which debuted during Labor Day weekend, depicts a Wrightesque Mighty Taco, complete with cars going through its drive through window.  The artwork features Wright's "Tree of Life" windows and a prairie-style restaurant.
The text refers to a fictional Mighty Taco designed by Wright in 1927 that was extolled as "truly revolutionary," complete with "falling hot sauce" by the restaurant's main entrance.
James Gillan, Paragon founding partner and the creative force behind the Might Taco ads, said the tray liner is really a tribute to two of the region's most identifiable icons – the Martin House and, of course, Mighty Taco.
"It was visionary," he said.
Thus far, Gillan has had minimal feedback about the tray liners.  He said he wouldn't be surprised if he hears something from either the local Wright supporters, namely the Martin House Restoration Corp. or the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation in Oak Park, Ill.
One would hope they have a sense of humor. 
Even the Mighty Taco executives, who themselves have a great sense of humor, got a good chuckle out of Gillan's work.
"It's proof that we always try and stay on the cutting edge of humor," said Andy Gerovac, Mighty Taco secretary-treasurer.  "In a way, I kind of feel sorry for our drive through customers who won't get to see the place mats."
Gerovac said given the deep Frank Lloyd Wright history in the Buffalo Niagara region, it was a natural to bring the two together.
Gillan, however, wants to take it one step further.
The advertising executive thinks Buffalo should lobby the Wright Foundation and get their sanction for building a regional museum paying tribute to the world famous architect.  Gillan is serious.  Dead serious.
The Buffalo Niagara area has five standing Frank Lloyd Wright-designed residences.
In addition, Forest Lawn Cemetery is in the process of erecting a Wright-designed mausoleum and businessman and transportation buff Jim Sandoro will soon start construct on a gas station Wright designed, but until now was never built.
Furthermore, there's a movement afoot to build a Wright-designed boathouse along the Erie Canal.
"We try all this ridiculous stuff in the region that really has nothing to do with Western New York and it always flops," he said.  "This is something that is a natural for Buffalo and would draw a lot of people."
In the meantime, Gillan's creative wheels are already churning on Mighty Taco's Christmas and wintertime tray liners.