Harry Morton

Harry Morton (born 1981) of Los Angeles, California is President and CEO of Pink Taco restaurants, and, as of February 2008, owner of The Viper Room. His father is Peter Morton, co-founder of Hard Rock Cafe, his mother is former British model Paulene Stone, and his grandfather is Arnold "Arnie" Morton, founder of Morton's Steakhouse Chain.

Personal Life and Background

Harry Morton is the son of Peter Morton, owner of the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas and co-founder of the Hard Rock Cafe. Peter Morton sold his chain of Hard Rock Cafes in 1995 for a reported $410 million. In the fall of 2006 he sold the remaining jewel of his empire, the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino for $770 million in a cash deal. His late grandfather, Arnold "Arnie" J. Morton, was founder of Morton's Steakhouse, a chain of high-end steak and seafood restaurants. Both work in the restaurant and entertainment business.

Education

Morton went to Harvard Westlake School in North Hollywood, California. [http://hw.com] Then he attended New York University (NYU) to study Business and Hospitality Management.

Career

After NYU, Morton sought to season his career. Morton embarked on marketing and nightlife ventures at the his father's Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, where he was instrumental in guiding the success of Body English, its nightclub, and in luring Jeff Beacher's comedy variety show from Manhattan to Las Vegas. [http://www.vegasmagazine.com/2006/02/01/features2.html] He also created Rehab, a Sunday party at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino pool that has drawn a nationwide following. [http://www.rehablv.com]

To achieve his own dream, his first stepping stone is Pink Taco, an eatery serving authentic Mexican fare and over 60 kinds of tequila in a colorful lounge, where he tried to "create a place where he and his friends could hang out." [http://www.pinktaco.com/15_us.pdf] The first location is at -- where else -- his father's Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas opened in 2000. The second location and the first outside the Strip is at the Scottsdale Waterfront in Scottsdale, Arizona, opened in June, 2006. Morton is overseeing the national expansion of his Mexican Restaurant chain. Another one opened in Los Angeles in June 2007, and more are slated to open in Hollywood, San Diego, and Miami. [ [http://www.pinktaco.com/ Pink Taco locations] ]

On February 1, 2008, Morton bought the infamous nightclub The Viper Room on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, CA.

References

* [http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=75130 Pink Taco's Morton turns to big easy]
* [http://www.azfamily.com/news/local/stories/KTVKLNews20060824_pink-taco.30d1226e.html Some sports franchises courting pink taco]
*http://www.azcentral.com/ent/dining/articles/0422biz-pinktaco.html
*http://www.azcentral.com/ent/dining/articles/0422biz-pinktaco.html
*http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/0926biz-namingrights0926.html
*http://www.wdsu.com/news/9956336/detail.html
*http://www.prnewstoday.com/release.htm?cat=entertainment&dat=20060821&rl=LAM04921082006-1
*http://www.evliving.com/cities_news.php?action=fullnews&id=5697
*http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2006/08/21/daily10.html
*http://theguide.latimes.com/blogs/soundboard/2008/02/11/viper-room-sold-to-harry-morton/
*http://la.eater.com/archives/2008/02/11/harry_morton_buys_viper_room.php

External links

* [http://www.pinktaco.com/ The Pink Taco official website]
* [http://www.vegasmagazine.com/2006/02/01/features2.html Vegas Magazine Features Stars and Moguls "The Son also Rises"]