From New and Innovative Work in Advertising and Design.

Restaurateur Steven Starr's latest project (an upscale Mexican restaurant) posed an interesting challenge for Philadelphia-based Quaker City Mercantile: how to creatively, and collectively, position the restaurant as both upscale and less than sophisticated. Named after the real-life and flamboyant singer "El Vez, The Mexican Elvis," the restaurant is quirky, hip and pricey. To convey the lowbrow-meets-$30-taco concept, Quaker City Mercantile (formerly known as Gyro Worldwide) hired underground street artist Nick Paparone to develop a hand-made barrio meets hipster vibe for the posters.

Art Director / Illustrator: Nick Paparone

Quaker City Mercantile (formerly known as Gyro Worldwide) developed the concept, logo and advertising for Stephen Starr's El Vez.

It's one thing to name your new Mexican restaurant after a weird, not particularly convincing Mexican Elvis impersonator who looks a bit like Prince, but is nothing sacred to restaurateur Stephen Starr? The cad has slapped an image of Charo's face on all the bar stools! He has also put a revolving, gilded low-rider motorcycle above the bar, covered the booths in red and gold velvet, and hung hundreds of happy little Day of the Dead skulls in boxes above the booths at his new Philadelphia hot spot.