take two

Brand & marketing systems
Food & Bev

Role

  • Restaurant concept development & launch strategy
  • Steps of Service design & hospitality training
  • Guest journey mapping & touchpoint evaluation
  • Restaurant Operations & Systems Building
  • Brand identity, positioning & storytelling
  • Community building & cultural partnerships
  • Content strategy for hospitality & lifestyle brands
Take Two was conceived as the “same-same-but-different” companion to our sister restaurant, Gabbiano’s. What began as a waiting room evolved into a destination in its own right, a bar built to stand on its own story. Inspired by spaghetti western grit with a cheeky Italian twist,  helped concept and build Take Two from the ground up, shaping everything from brand identity and guest journey to the systems and rhythms that made the experience work night after night.

The brand manifesto captured the spirit: 75 percent bar, 25 percent ’60s and ’70s film, 40 percent Italian food, 5 percent western, 5 percent second chances. From the playful, cinematic décor to the now-infamous grimy martini, every detail was designed to feel intentional but never precious.
The goal was simple: create a place that felt welcoming, a little rough around the edges, and full of character, the kind of bar people didn’t just wait in, but returned to again and again.

Take Two quickly became a neighborhood hangout with a cult following, a place where great drinks, good food, and a strong point of view came together without taking themselves too seriously. It wasn’t just an extension of another concept, it became part of the larger story, proof that when brand, service, and atmosphere align, even a supporting character can steal the scene.

Photography: One Haus Creative | Design: Julianne Seely

Role

  • Hospitality-driven concept development and launch leadership
  • Brand identity, positioning, and narrative direction
  • Guest journey design and experiential touchpoints
  • Restaurant operations, service systems, and team training
  • Community engagement and cultural storytelling
  • Creative direction and content strategy
Assorted cocktails and a whiskey glass on a shimmering red surface with a metal shaker, cocktail picks, and a blue menu titled Take Two nearby, all dramatically lit.A green side table holds a potted plant, a white ceramic goose, drinks, coasters, a rainbow-covered book, and a candle. Part of a wooden armchair with orange floral upholstery is visible in front.
A black and white photo of a storefront door with “Take Two” written on it. The door also reads Back on the horse 7 days a week and Open till late. A hand is partially visible holding the door open.A close-up of a messy sandwich being held, filled with melty cheese, meatballs in tomato sauce, banana peppers, and onions. The melted cheese stretches as the sandwich is lifted.
A martini glass filled with a dark cocktail, garnished with an olive and lemon twist skewered on a cocktail pick, sits on a glittery red surface with dramatic lighting.A woman with glasses and tattoos sits at a restaurant table covered with assorted food and drinks. She wears a red and white Disneyland shirt and holds a fork, with music and rodeo posters on the wall behind her.A tattooed arm holds a martini, a glass of dark liquor, and a Budweiser beer bottle against a red wall with a DO NOT ENTER sign above.
A smartphone displays the Instagram profile of taketwopdx, a bar with 61 posts, 3,690 followers, and 777 following. The phone is set against a desert landscape with red rock formations and a blue sky.A red table covered with drinks, burgers, chicken wings, pickles, sauces, and checkered paper baskets, suggesting a lively meal with friends at a casual restaurant.
A framed photo of two people in trench coats and hats walking in snow, holding suitcases. Next to the frame are a black bird figurine and a lit candle in a glass holder on a dark shelf.A tall glass of a yellow cocktail garnished with lime slices and mint sits on a wooden table, next to an amber glass candle holder and a table number sign reading 39.
A large ice cube in a drink, viewed from above, with the phrase GET BACK ON THE HORSE repeatedly printed on its surface in black letters. The liquid around the ice cube is amber in color.A hand holds a spoonful of creamy dessert above a mason jar filled with layered banana pudding, whipped cream, and cookies on a red, glittery surface. Cookie pieces and whipped cream are scattered around the jar.
A person with pink-painted nails holds a Budweiser beer bottle next to a glass with a dark liquid. The person wears a Budweiser t-shirt and has tattoos on their arm. The scene is set on a red, sparkly table.Two wedge salads with lettuce, cherry tomatoes, shredded cheese, red onion slices, blue cheese crumbles, bacon bits, and creamy dressing, served on a silver platter.
A person holds a wine glass and reaches toward a photo booth slot, with a glowing light above and a sign reading get your photos here and an arrow pointing down.A cozy restaurant booth with a dark wooden table, black padded seats, a teal menu, a candle holder, and various colorful framed artworks on a black and red wall.
Six hands holding various dipping sauces surround a basket of waffle fries on checkered paper, viewed from above.A martini with two olives on a pick sits on a Take Two coaster beside a red matchbook, all on a sparkling, glittery surface.
A dimly lit restaurant with wooden tables, blue menus, a candle holder, and chairs. A framed portrait of a woman in a hat hangs on the dark wall in the background.A glass door with the words Take Two written in white script. The door reflects a street scene with parked cars, a building, and some greenery in the background.
Dear Heather Wallberg is about designing experiences that make people feel welcome. Informed by hospitality and real-world practice, the work is shaped by what guests experience from the first hello to the last goodbye.

Select Clients

James Beard AwardsAbigail Hall High TeaGabbianosTake TwoAngela Vineyards
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