Jon Tartaglia, the man behind The Loft and 21 Commerce, plans to re-name and renovate his Taboo nightclub.  He's even hired a fancy local ad agency to help. â€" Brad Allen

Tacoma's JayRay Advertising Agency reports:  Jon Tartaglia of Emerging Market Development announces a new project â€" revamping Taboo into an entirely new restaurant and bar.
"We're going to remodel the whole place," Tartaglia says of the venue at the corner of 9th and A Street (in Tacoma). "Give it a new name, move comedy upstairs and turn the main floor into a bar and grill. It's going to be a casual space. Really, something for everyone â€" a place to kick-back after work."
As part of their ongoing strategy to grow their business and invest in downtown, Tartaglia announced last week that Emerging Market Development sold the Loft and 21 Commerce to Mars Unlimited, Inc., of Lakewood. Tartaglia says that he and his partners weren't actively seeking to sell, but when approached it was an offer they couldn't pass up.
"This gives us the opportunity we were looking for to put all of our energies into Varsity Grill and the project on 9th and A," he says.
"Part of our business philosophy is to lead development efforts and take risks with niche bars and restaurants. We want to launch businesses and make sure they're sustainable. And we're always thinking what's next â€" how can we continue the cycle of building new businesses?"
Tartaglia plans on opening the new bar and grill in October. This is good news for Tacoma. Emerging Market Development helped lead downtown's growth with the Loft and 21 Commerce anchoring the southern end of Pacific Avenue. The new space will add energy at the other end of the city center.
"I grew up in Tacoma and I want to be part of its revitalization," says Tartaglia. "The potential is so exciting."