Historic Minneapolis Landmark Captures the Crown in the 12th Annual Cintas’ America’s Best Restroom Contest
Minneapolis, MN/Cincinnati, OH – November 19, 2013 – America voted and decided that Varsity Theater has the best restroom in all the land. After viewing its quirky design and furnishings, the online public selected the venue’s restroom over a strong field of finalists in the 12th annual contest.
What made the Varsity Theater the 2013 King of Thrones? It starts with the unique décor: ornate mirrors and curvy brick walls. Distinctive features include sinks operated by foot pedal and a co-ed hand wash area. Bartenders even serve drinks into the restroom on a back counter. For many Twin Cities residents, the restroom at the concert hall is as popular as the artists on stage.
“The team at Varsity Theater understands the value of a well-maintained and memorable restroom,” said Cintas’ Senior Marketing Manager John Engel. “What they have is more than a creative concept. It’s an effective business tool that keeps people coming back.”
Engel visited Varsity Theater on Tuesday, November 19 to present owner Jason McLean with the 2013 award. The theater has now secured its place in the Cintas’ America’s Best Restroom Hall of Fame.
In the contest, which attracted thousands of online votes, America chose Portland’s Ground Kontrol Classic Arcade’s restroom the No. 2 place “to go.” Public Glass Bathrooms on the Square in Sulphur Springs, Texas took 3rd place.
Varsity Theater, formerly The University Theater, was one of the last vaudeville houses in Minneapolis and hosted minstrel shows, comedians and screenings of early silent films.
“The best restroom award is truly an honor,” said Jason McLean, Varsity Theater owner and general manager. “In an era when designers are so creative with public restrooms, we consider this award a tremendous achievement.”
As for the restroom’s fantasy-themed design, “I ask the audience to spend a short time immersed in a make-believe world, leaving their cares behind and yet in a social way,” McLean said.
The 2013 contest attracted nominations from a wide range of businesses, including restaurants, a hotel, an ice cream parlor, an art museum and a classic arcade. The ten finalists were selected based on cleanliness, visual appeal, innovation, functionality and unique design elements.
The 2013 finalists:
Business/Facility
Alex Madonna Gold Rush Steak House – San Luis Obispo, CA
Ground Kontrol Classic Arcade – Portland, OR
John Michael Kohler Arts Center – Sheboygan, WI
Public Glass Bathrooms on the Square – Sulphur Springs, TX
Sloan’s Ice Cream – West Palm Beach, FL
Tampa International Airport – Tampa, FL
Varsity Theater – Minneapolis, MN
Viracocha – San Francisco, CA
Waldorf Astoria – New York, NY
Westfield Garden State Plaza – Paramus, NJ
To view photos of previous winners, visit the America’s Best Restroom Hall of Fame on the contest website at www.bestrestroom.com.
Cintas launched the America’s Best Restroom Contest in 2002 to honor businesses across the country that consider hygiene and style top priorities.
“This project is undoubtedly fun, but it also conveys a critical message that restroom hygiene matters for good health and good business. Proprietors recognize the parallel between clean restrooms and customer retention,” said Engel. “We look forward to celebrating our 13th year in 2014 and invite the public to nominate their favorite facility online now for consideration in next year’s competition.”
For more information or to set up an interview, please contact Survey Editor Danny Rubin at 757-285-7617.
About Cintas:
Headquartered in Cincinnati, Cintas Corporation provides highly specialized services to businesses of all types primarily throughout North America. Cintas designs, manufactures and implements corporate identity uniform programs, and provides entrance mats, restroom cleaning and supplies, tile and carpet cleaning, promotional products, first aid, safety, fire protection products and services and document management services for more than one million businesses. Cintas is a publicly held company traded over the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol CTAS and is a component of the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index.
Mississauga, ON – October 7, 2013 – When you’ve gotta go, these top potties provide sweet relief, according to the team of survey editors tasked with narrowing down the five best washroom facilities before the Internet public picks its favourite this fall.
Will this year’s winner be a luxurious rest stop tucked away in Valleyview at the Shell Super Station, the decadent lavatories at MoRoCo Chocolat or the chic-contemporary stalls of Steamworks Brew Pub?
Voting begins now! The public is invited to show its support by casting a ballot for their favourite washroom online at www.bestrestroom.com/canada through the end of November as these top five venues compete to secure the most votes in hopes of being crowned Cintas’ Canada’s Best Restroom.
The contest’s site takes visitors on a photographic tour of each facility and then encourages them to choose their favourite. The winner of the 4th annual Cintas’ Canada’s Best Restroom Contest will be revealed during a nationally publicized media event later this fall, and both the winner and runner-up will secure a place in the Hall of Fame.
2013 Finalists for Cintas’ Canada’s Best Restroom Contest:
CHOP
Richmond, British Columbia
CHOP Steakhouse is a casual dining experience for any occasion with lavish loos you won’t want to miss. Upon entering the washrooms, diners are treated to an impressive eight-foot tall stone fountain carved with floral and animal artwork. The washroom takes on the same ambience as the restaurant with low golden lights and flower arrangements covering the facility. The walls and floors are decorated in warm earth tones, and the luxurious leather couches make the washroom a great spot for private conversation. Vaulted wooden ceilings complete the room as a hint of natural light peeks in overhead.
Steamworks Brew Pub in Gastown
Vancouver, British Columbia
Applauded for its “practicality” and raved about for its stylish décor, the women’s washroom inside Steamworks Brew Pub in Gastown has the women gossiping. Literally. Owner Eli Gershkovitch says since women quite often go to the washroom in pairs to catch up on gossip, it only makes sense to include an oversized stall featuring two toilettes and a shoulder-height partition so ladies can continue their conversations uninterrupted. The semi-private setting is popular with parents too, who say trips to the loo with the little ones are more convenient thanks to the washroom’s open concept. The washrooms feature automated, hands-free conveniences as well as polished stone and glass mosaic infinity tiles from ceiling to floor. The space is finished off with marble countertops, stainless steel fixtures and sleek wall sconces. One might just argue the life of the party is in this loo!
Valleyview Shell Super Station
Valleyview, Alberta
Tapped in 2010 as the Best Green Store, the Valleyview Shell Super Station was awarded the top honour by Convenience Store Magazine for its geo-thermal heating and cooling technologies. In 2012 this road warrior’s retreat underwent a second round of renovations – this time to the women’s washroom – that garnered rave reviews. Solid alder wood doors with privacy glass panels were installed. To give the ceiling a finish to match, alder wood tongue and groove boards were mounted overhead. Recessed lights accentuate the tiled walls, which are divided by a stripe of smaller stone accents, giving this space a bright, clean feel. The sleek granite countertops and automatic stainless steel fixtures in the washroom offer an attractive balance to the warm tones of the Travertine floor tiles. Ornate carved mirrors and sparkling Victorian style semi-flush mount chandeliers finish off the space by adding a final touch of elegance.
MoRoCo Chocolat
Toronto, Ontario
This chocolate-lovers paradise is home to a variety of sweet treats as well as a hidden oasis in the washroom’s “suites.” The women’s loos are fit for a princess, with filigree detailing, and a washbowl that sits regally on a pristine white sink top. Each “suite” is unique with its own finishing touches, including a heart-shaped, silver vanity mirror and a tea set suspended upside down from the ceiling, giving a brand new meaning to the phrase “high tea”. In the men’s suites, black and white marble covers the floor and reaches toward the black tile walls. Pops of yellow accent artwork and frames add just the right touch of colour. Chocolate isn’t the only luxury in this quaint boutique. This restaurant and dessert lounge is an indulgence for all the senses.
Marché Restaurant
Toronto, Ontario
Located in the heart of downtown Toronto, Marché Restaurant is a lively, European-style marketplace known for its fresh, healthy food prepared right before your eyes. Marché aims to satisfy your senses and provide you with a quality experience that does just that; from food preparation and service, to the detailed black-and-white décor in the restrooms. It’s all the fine details that create the refreshing ambiance. The restroom walls are lined with vertical black-and-white striped wallpaper and tile along the bottom half of the walls, complimented with white, porcelain pedestal sinks and old black-and-white photographs. Together, all the elements create a cohesive and modern-style atmosphere that is sure to leave a lasting impression. Cintas created Canada’s Best Restroom in 2010 to honour those businesses across Canada that place hygiene and style at the top of their priority lists. Proprietors recognize the parallel between clean washrooms and customer retention. “We like to think of this contest as an entertaining way of drawing the public’s attention to the very important issue of restroom hygiene,” says Cintas Canada’s Senior Marketing Manager Leslie Molin. “There is a bigger business message behind this quirky contest: How you keep your restrooms is indicative of how you run your facilities. In business operations today this is extremely important.”
Last year’s winner of the inaugural Canada’s Best Restroom contest was the Langley Street Loo, in Vancouver. To view photos of previous winners, visit www.bestrestroom.com/canada and click on the Hall of Fame.
About Cintas Canada
Cintas Canada Ltd, with headquarters in Mississauga, Ontario is a subsidiary of Cintas Corporation. Cintas Canada designs, manufactures and implements corporate identity uniform programs and provides entrance mats, restroom cleaning and supplies, tile and carpet cleaning and document shredding services to approximately 55,000 businesses in Canada. Cintas is a publicly held company traded over the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol CTAS, and is a component of the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index.
Mississauga, ON – October 7, 2013 – When you’ve gotta go, these top potties provide sweet relief, according to the team of survey editors tasked with narrowing down the five best washroom facilities before the Internet public picks its favourite this fall.
Will this year’s winner be a luxurious rest stop tucked away in Valleyview at the Shell Super Station, the decadent lavatories at MoRoCo Chocolat or the chic-contemporary stalls of Steamworks Brew Pub?
Voting begins now! The public is invited to show its support by casting a ballot for their favourite washroom online at www.bestrestroom.com/ca through the end of November as these top five venues compete to secure the most votes in hopes of being crowned Cintas’ Canada’s Best Restroom.
The contest’s site takes visitors on a photographic tour of each facility and then encourages them to choose their favourite. The winner of the 4th annual Cintas’ Canada’s Best Restroom Contest will be revealed during a nationally publicized media event later this fall, and both the winner and runner-up will secure a place in the Hall of Fame.
2013 Finalists for Cintas’ Canada’s Best Restroom Contest:
CHOP
Richmond, British Columbia
CHOP Steakhouse is a casual dining experience for any occasion with lavish loos you won’t want to miss. Upon entering the washrooms, diners are treated to an impressive eight-foot tall stone fountain carved with floral and animal artwork. The washroom takes on the same ambience as the restaurant with low golden lights and flower arrangements covering the facility. The walls and floors are decorated in warm earth tones, and the luxurious leather couches make the washroom a great spot for private conversation. Vaulted wooden ceilings complete the room as a hint of natural light peeks in overhead.
Steamworks Brew Pub in Gastown
Vancouver, British Columbia
Applauded for its “practicality” and raved about for its stylish décor, the women’s washroom inside Steamworks Brew Pub in Gastown has the women gossiping. Literally. Owner Eli Gershkovitch says since women quite often go to the washroom in pairs to catch up on gossip, it only makes sense to include an oversized stall featuring two toilettes and a shoulder-height partition so ladies can continue their conversations uninterrupted. The semi-private setting is popular with parents too, who say trips to the loo with the little ones are more convenient thanks to the washroom’s open concept. The washrooms feature automated, hands-free conveniences as well as polished stone and glass mosaic infinity tiles from ceiling to floor. The space is finished off with marble countertops, stainless steel fixtures and sleek wall sconces. One might just argue the life of the party is in this loo!
Valleyview Shell Super Station
Valleyview, Alberta
Tapped in 2010 as the Best Green Store, the Valleyview Shell Super Station was awarded the top honour by Convenience Store Magazine for its geo-thermal heating and cooling technologies. In 2012 this road warrior’s retreat underwent a second round of renovations – this time to the women’s washroom – that garnered rave reviews. Solid alder wood doors with privacy glass panels were installed. To give the ceiling a finish to match, alder wood tongue and groove boards were mounted overhead. Recessed lights accentuate the tiled walls, which are divided by a stripe of smaller stone accents, giving this space a bright, clean feel. The sleek granite countertops and automatic stainless steel fixtures in the washroom offer an attractive balance to the warm tones of the Travertine floor tiles. Ornate carved mirrors and sparkling Victorian style semi-flush mount chandeliers finish off the space by adding a final touch of elegance.
MoRoCo Chocolat
Toronto, Ontario
This chocolate-lovers paradise is home to a variety of sweet treats as well as a hidden oasis in the washroom’s “suites.” The women’s loos are fit for a princess, with filigree detailing, and a washbowl that sits regally on a pristine white sink top. Each “suite” is unique with its own finishing touches, including a heart-shaped, silver vanity mirror and a tea set suspended upside down from the ceiling, giving a brand new meaning to the phrase “high tea”. In the men’s suites, black and white marble covers the floor and reaches toward the black tile walls. Pops of yellow accent artwork and frames add just the right touch of colour. Chocolate isn’t the only luxury in this quaint boutique. This restaurant and dessert lounge is an indulgence for all the senses.
Marché Restaurant
Toronto, Ontario
Located in the heart of downtown Toronto, Marché Restaurant is a lively, European-style marketplace known for its fresh, healthy food prepared right before your eyes. Marché aims to satisfy your senses and provide you with a quality experience that does just that; from food preparation and service, to the detailed black-and-white décor in the restrooms. It’s all the fine details that create the refreshing ambiance. The restroom walls are lined with vertical black-and-white striped wallpaper and tile along the bottom half of the walls, complimented with white, porcelain pedestal sinks and old black-and-white photographs. Together, all the elements create a cohesive and modern-style atmosphere that is sure to leave a lasting impression.
Cintas created Canada’s Best Restroom in 2010 to honour those businesses across Canada that place hygiene and style at the top of their priority lists. Proprietors recognize the parallel between clean washrooms and customer retention. “We like to think of this contest as an entertaining way of drawing the public’s attention to the very important issue of restroom hygiene,” says Cintas Canada’s Senior Marketing Manager Leslie Molin. “There is a bigger business message behind this quirky contest: How you keep your restrooms is indicative of how you run your facilities. In business operations today this is extremely important.”
Last year’s winner of the inaugural Canada’s Best Restroom contest was the Langley Street Loo, in Vancouver. To view photos of previous winners, visit www.bestrestroom.com/canada and click on the Hall of Fame.
About Cintas Canada
Cintas Canada Ltd, with headquarters in Mississauga, Ontario is a subsidiary of Cintas Corporation. Cintas Canada designs, manufactures and implements corporate identity uniform programs and provides entrance mats, restroom cleaning and supplies, tile and carpet cleaning and document shredding services to approximately 55,000 businesses in Canada. Cintas is a publicly held company traded over the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol CTAS, and is a component of the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index.
Cincinnati, OH- September 2, 2013 – When you’ve gotta go, these top potties provide sweet relief, according to the team of survey editors tasked with narrowing down the ten best restrooms before the Internet public picks its favorite this fall.
“Will America decide that the nation’s top toilet is indeed “functional art” inspired by an Italian masterpiece on show at a Swiss museum? Perhaps it’ll be the “Pac Man” potty inside the Pacific Coast arcade that prides itself on preserving the “golden age” of gaming? Or will one of New York City’s most luxurious loos, a sprawling sophisticated space inside the iconic Waldorf Astoria hotel, capture the crown to become America’s 2013 King of the Throne? We will soon find out as this year’s top ten public potties compete for the coveted title of Cintas’ America’s Best Restroom, the popular contest now celebrating its 12th year.
Voting begins now! The public is invited to show its support by casting a ballot for their favorite restroom online at www.bestrestroom.com through October 31 as these top 10 venues compete to secure the most votes in hopes of being crowned Cintas’ America’s Best Restroom.
The contest’s site takes visitors on a photographic tour of each facility and then encourages them to choose their favorite. The winner of the 12th annual Cintas’ America’s Best Restroom Contest will be revealed during a nationally publicized media event later this fall, and both the winner and runner-up will secure a place in the Hall of Fame.
2013 Finalists for Cintas’ America’s Best Restroom Contest
Viracocha /veerah-coach-a/ San Francisco, California
From the outside it’s an inviting, rustic looking boutique. Once inside, Viracocha’s quaint and cozy charm come to life beneath the high-beamed ceilings that house vintage clothing, antique furniture and other unique collectibles. Nestled in San Francisco’s oldest neighborhood, Viracocha is a haven for local artists, writers and musicians. This eclectic vintage store has become one of the Mission District’s most popular destinations – predominantly for its posh potty – which patrons say resembles a “Zen retreat” so magical you will wish you could live in it. Featuring vintage table lamps, a Victorian bath tub, and a cozy white arm chair, it comes as little surprise to locals that Viracocha’s ornate, spacious bathroom has been called “one of the top 10 places in the city to take a date” by several San Francisco bloggers and named as a finalist in this year’s America’s Best Restroom contest. “We regularly have to tell visitors to hurry up the tour,” joked store owner, Jonathan Siegel.
Alex Madonna Gold Rush Steak House
San Luis Obispo, California
You won’t be disappointed by the lavish décor of the Madonna Inn. But if you really want to relish in the lap of luxury, take a tour of the ladies loo inside the Alex Madonna Gold Rush Steak House. Designed to capture the same timeless elegance represented in other parts of the Inn, designer and co-owner Phyllis Madonna carried the colorful palette and patterns into the ladies room for a very pink, distinctly feminine appeal. The girly-chic washroom features carved-wooded stall doors adorned with tufted pink leather, an antiqued gold distressed-finished mirror, a dazzling ceiling chandelier, marble countertops, and pink embossed wallpaper with a gold leaf finish. One of the more notable design features seen throughout the Inn, and in this ladies restroom, are the signature native stone walls. Original photos of the Inn show the restroom’s stone walls being erected before any interior construction could begin.
Tampa International Airport
Tampa, Florida
Before blessing the budget to renovate Tampa International’s main terminal the CEO wisely noted that his airport restroom facilities “reflect the level of customer service provided by the business and it is something that people remember, for better or worse, so always make sure it’s better”. With 17 million passengers traveling through the Airport each year, that’s a lot of customer impressions. The 20 restrooms in the main terminal were renovated as part of the airport’s latest modernization project and were redesigned to provide a bright, clean atmosphere with a fresh, Florida feel. The restrooms feature automated, hands-free conveniences that exude a sanitary and modern feel. A family restroom, which features a changing station, bench seating and outlets for nursing mothers and guests with medical devices, is located directly adjacent to each set of restrooms. All of the high-end, quality materials used in the new facilities such as stainless steel, porcelain and quartz were selected for maximum durability and ease of maintenance. The focal point of each restroom is the full-wall graphic glass mural with a different image in each restroom. The murals were created from photographic prints that are floating between 2 panes of glass. The images were selected to depict scenery, animals and plant life all native to the state of Florida. Incorporating eco-friendly materials into the project was a high priority for the design team. State-of-the-art airblade hand dryers were added to cut down on paper waste. Lighting fixtures were replaced with LED lighting to reduce energy consumption while increasing the longevity of the fixtures. In addition, all of the toilets and urinals were replaced with low-flow fixtures reducing water usage by half.
Sloan’s Ice Cream
West Palm Beach, Florida
For ice cream fanatics, it may be hard to imagine anything more fantastic than a parlor filled with 47 flavors of your favorite frozen treat! But if you bypass the lollipops and licorice and beeline for the bathroom, you”re sure to find a surprisingly memorable sight – another of Sloan”s celebrated sensory experiences – its see-through bathrooms! When the restroom is empty the bathroom window visible to the parlor is clear, but once locked, a layer of fog blocks the view. Here”s the science behind it: sandwiched between the two panels of glass is a mixture of polymer and liquid crystals. A constant electrical current keeps the crystals in line and the glass transparent. But when the door handle is locked, the current is stopped, the crystals fall, and the glass looks clouded. Of course, you”ll still wonder when you take a seat whether or not it works! How”s that for sinfully sweet?
Varsity Theater
Minneapolis, Minnesota
The Varsity Theater, formerly The University Theater, was one of the last vaudeville houses in Minneapolis and hosted everything from minstrel shows, to comedians, to screenings of early silent films. In 2005, the current incarnation of The Varsity Theater opened its doors as a vaudeville house for the 21st Century. The restroom, decorated with ornate, gilded mirrors, sassy text plates, and bricks laid as if by a drunken mason on bender, invites guests into an Alice In Wonderland-like grotto – to relieve themselves and re-live childhood fairy tales. One part old-fashioned powder room one part lounge, this restroom allows concert-goers to take a break in an area from which one can still view and hear the stage. Bartenders even serve drinks over the back counter into the restroom area, offering a VIP experience to every guest. The sinks were designed with shower head-faucets with a foot pedal operation, a la grade school restrooms. The lounge and hand washing area is coed, creating quite a social atmosphere, particularly when concert-goers are trying to figure out how to activate the sinks and they need to ask one another for the tip – use your toes. And of course, the women’s side of the restroom features four times as many stalls as the men’s side. In addition to hosting both local and national music acts the Varsity is a popular location for wedding receptions, private galas, and dream dates, coupled with dinner at their associated restaurant, Loring Pasta Bar.
Westfield Garden State Plaza
Paramus, New Jersey
Toilet availability, safety and sanitation are all primary concerns – but family friendly facilities top the latest toilet-related trends. When it comes to shared parental responsibility, especially in public places, this is more than a matter of “wee importance”. The bathrooms inside New Jersey’s Garden State Plaza are the epitome of family-friendly. The shopping mall’s two exclusive, newly renovated family lounges include private curtained stalls for nursing mothers, a granite countertop with multiple diaper changing stations, and bottle warmers. A comfortable common area features leather lounge chairs and loveseats, toys and a TV airing children’s programming. The lounges even offer private stalls complete with one standard sized toilet and a “pint-sized” potty, too.
Waldorf Astoria New York
New York, New York
It’s been said that using the washrooms in the lobby of the Waldorf Astoria has, by now, become a rite of New York. The landmark hotel was designed by architects Schultze and Weaver and dates back to the early 1930’s The lobbies and entrance of the historical property have recently been restored to their 1930’s era art deco interior. The ladies lounge, located in the Park Avenue entrance lobby, features an Art Deco staircase, an elegant faux fireplace with oversized marble vanity. You will always be greeted by the bathroom attendant. Each private stall is an inclusive bathroom complete with a toilet, marble vanity, porcelain sink with brass fixtures and Salvatore Ferragamo bath amenities. The space is finished off with unique, timeless light fixtures.
Ground Kontrol Classic Arcade
Portland, Oregon
This bathroom is downright Kool! When Ground Kontrol Classic Arcade reopened its doors to this renovated space in 2011, the video game-themed bathrooms stole the show. The premier arcade, dedicated to preserving video gaming’s “golden age” features 60 classic video games and 27 pinball machines. Portland interior designer Jessica Helgerson created the space by combining convenience features like touchless faucets, with retro-style arcade game graphics incorporated into the tile work of the floors and walls. The theme carries through to the mirrors by using a maze of small “pixel” squares instead of a single large surface, and even up to the ceilings where square LED lights illuminate the room. Custom designed and fabricated sinks glow with an ever-changing array of color powered by more LED bulbs.
Public Glass Bathrooms on the Square
Sulphur Springs, Texas
This small Texas town took a big leap back in 2012 when they debuted two all-glass bathrooms on their downtown square, the first of their kind in the United States. The pair of glass potties didn’t come cheap though. The masterpieces cost the City a pretty penny – $54,000 to be exact. But it’s all in the name of art. Make that “functional art.” Part of the inspiration for this project came from Italian art piece, Monica Bonivicini’s ‘Don’t Miss A Sec’ from 2004, which was on display outside an art museum in Switzerland. The structure was initially part of the overall exhibit, but when construction workers began using the glass bathroom, the idea of “functional art” evolved. In order for the illusion to work properly, the outside of the structure must be more lit than the inside. These bathrooms have no lights on the inside and in order to see at night, LED lights were placed on the outside of the structure, for the illusion to remain. Sulphur Springs has the only functional, permanent and code complying glass bathrooms constructed with one-way mirrors. Users of the facility can see out, however, no one can see in. The design includes a spacious wheelchair-accessible interior and a gleaming stainless steel toilet and sink.
John Michael Kohler Arts Center
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
The John Michael Kohler Arts Center is renowned for exhibits that feature art made from pottery, iron, enamel and brass. But in the bathroom? That’s right. The museum has six, artist-inspired restrooms throughout the building. The idea began in 1974 when Director Ruth Kohler wanted to show the connection between art and industry. At that time, artists around the world combined new technology and materials, including those from Kohler Co., the nation’s leading plumbing ware manufacturer. Artist Matt Nolen designed the largest restroom in the Kohler Arts Center. Known as Social History of Architecture, it features a floor-to-ceiling mural, complex paintings and ceramic art. Every inch of the room is full of color, from the walls and ceilings to the counters and fixtures. Admission to the Kohler Arts Center is free so stop by and take in the beauty…of a bathroom!
Fans can also participate by visiting the Best Restroom Facebook page, Twitter account and YouTube Channel to post comments, receive contest updates, share photos or upload videos; links to all three sites are on the contest homepage.
“Cintas launched the America’s Best Restroom Contest twelve years ago to raise awareness of the importance of hygiene and to salute those businesses which strive for restroom excellence in both function and design,” said John Engel, Cintas’ Senior Marketing Manager.
Cintas Corporation (CTAS) accepted nominations for any non-residential restroom accessible to the general public online through the summer. Qualifying facilities were then judged and finalists were selected based on cleanliness, visual appeal, innovation, functionality and unique design elements.
For more than 80 years, Cintas has serviced businesses nationwide and their clientele, who recognize the correlation between clean restrooms and customer satisfaction and retention. “It makes smart business sense to maintain the facilities in a restaurant, hotel or other public place as it undoubtedly influences a customer’s overall experience. Everyone can appreciate a clean, well-maintained and innovatively designed restroom,” Engel added.
Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, Cintas Corporation provides highly specialized services to businesses of all types. Cintas designs, manufactures and implements corporate identity uniform programs, and provides entrance mats, restroom supplies, promotional products, first aid and safety products, fire protection services and document management services to approximately 900,000 businesses. Cintas is a publicly held company traded over the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol CTAS, and is a component of the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index.
Cintas Canada kicks off the 4th annual Canada’s Best Restroom Contest
Nominate a deserving washroom today!
Mississauga, ON – April 29, 2013- Cintas Canada is now accepting nominations for its annual Canada’s Best Restroom Contest, where the “top 5 places to go—when you’ve got to go” are identified and then voted on by the Internet public in an all out battle of the bowls.
“Cintas Canada launched the Best Restroom Contest in 2010 to raise awareness of the importance of hygiene and to salute those businesses which strive for washroom excellence in both function and design,” said Cintas Canada’s Senior Marketing Manager Leslie Molin.
For more than 80 years, Cintas has serviced businesses coast-to-coast and their customers, who recognize the correlation between clean washrooms and customer satisfaction and retention. “It makes smart business sense – everyone can appreciate a clean, well-maintained and innovatively designed restroom,” Molin added.
Do you own your own establishment? Are you the creative mind or part of a team behind the washroom design inside of one? Or have you patronized a particularly memorable facility?
Nominate a deserving washroom online today at www.bestrestroom.com/ca/nominate.
The contest is open to any non-residential restroom in Canada that is accessible to the general public. Entries will be judged on cleanliness, visual appeal, innovation, functionality and unique design elements.
“Nominees and finalists run the gamut, from historical buildings, to five star luxury hotels and restaurants in Canada’s most populated provinces, to gas stations along remote highways and even mom & pop style diners in the country’s most rural regions,” said Sabrina Zimring, Survey Editor for Cintas’ Canada’s Best Restroom Contest.
Visit the Best Restroom Facebook page, Twitter account, YouTube Channel and Instagram to post comments, receive contest updates, share photos or upload videos; links to the sites are on the contest homepage.
Five finalists will be announced in late summer, at which time online voting will begin. The winner and runner-up will be revealed this fall during a nationally publicized media event, and the top vote getters will secure a place in Cintas’ Canada’s Best Restroom Contest Hall of Fame.
2012 Winner and Finalists
2012 Winner: Langley Street Loo – Victoria, BC
1st Runner Up: This Is London Club – Toronto, ON
2nd Runner Up: Earls – Toronto, ON
3rd Runner Up: The Georgian Court Hotel – Vancouver, BC
4th Runner Up: Centre for Professional Training – Repentigny, QC
About Cintas Canada Ltd:
Cintas Canada Ltd, with headquarters in Mississauga, Ontario is a subsidiary of Cintas Corporation. Cintas Canada designs, manufactures and implements corporate identity uniform programs and provides entrance mats, restroom cleaning and supplies, tile and carpet cleaning and document shredding services to approximately 55,000 businesses in Canada. Cintas is a publicly held company traded over the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol CTAS, and is a component of the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index.
Proposez la candidature d’une toilette digne de mention dès aujourd’hui!
Mississauga, ONTARIO- Le 29 avril 2013 – Cintas Canada reçoit dès maintenant les candidatures pour son concours annuel Meilleures toilettes du Canada, dans le cadre duquel les nominations des « cinq meilleurs endroits où aller quand il faut y aller » sont identifiés et font ensuite l’objet d’un vote par le public internaute dans une bataille en règle des bols.
« Cintas Canada a lancé le concours Meilleures toilettes du Canada® en 2010 afin de sensibiliser le public à l’importance de l’hygiène ainsi que pour honorer les entreprises qui s’efforcent d’atteindre l’excellence en matière de fonctionnalité et de design de leurs toilettes », explique Leslie Molin, directrice principale du marketing à Cintas Canada.
Depuis plus de 80 ans, Cintas est au service d’entreprises d’un océan à l’autre et leurs clients, qui reconnaissent la corrélation qui existe entre la propreté des toilettes ainsi que la satisfaction et la fidélisation de la clientèle. « C’est une décision judicieuse pour les affaires – tout le monde peut apprécier des salles de toilettes propres et bien entretenues au design novateur », d’ajouter Madame Molin.
Êtes-vous propriétaire d’un établissement? Êtes-vous l’esprit créatif qui se cache derrière la conception des toilettes publiques d’un de ces établissements ou faites-vous partie de l’équipe de conception? Peut-être êtes-vous le client qui apprécie ces toilettes de passage particulièrement mémorables?
Proposez la candidature d’une toilette digne de mention en ligne, dès aujourd’hui à www.bestrestroom.com/cafrench.
Toutes les toilettes publiques situées dans des bâtiments non résidentiels du Canada qui sont accessibles au grand public sont admissibles au concours. Les participants seront jugés en fonction de la propreté, de l’apparence, de l’innovation, de la fonctionnalité et des éléments de design uniques des toilettes.
« Les candidats et finalistes proviennent de tous les horizons : qu’il s’agisse de bâtiments historiques, d’hôtels et de restaurants cinq étoiles de luxe dans les provinces les plus denses du Canada, jusqu’aux stations-services situées aux abords d’autoroutes éloignées, en passant par des casse-croûtes situés dans les régions les plus rurales », d’expliquer Sabrina Zimring, éditrice du sondage pour le concours Meilleures toilettes du Canada de Cintas.
Visitez la page Facebook, le compte Twitter, le canal YouTube et Instagram du concours pour y afficher vos commentaires, recevoir des nouvelles du concours, partager des photos ou télécharger des vidéos; les liens vers ces sites se trouvent sur la page d’accueil du concours.
Cintas annoncera les cinq finalistes à la fin de l’été, moment à partir duquel débutera le vote en ligne. Le lauréat et le finaliste seront révélés cet automne au cours d’un événement média publicisé à l’échelle nationale et les établissements qui auront reçu le plus de votes se mériteront une place dans le Temple de la renommée du concours Meilleures toilettes du Canada®.
Entreprise & Emplacement
Gagnant de 2012 : Langley Street Loo – Victoria, C.-B.
1er finaliste : This Is London Club – Toronto, Ontario
2e finaliste : Earls – Toronto, Ontario
3e finaliste : The Georgian Court Hotel – Vancouver, C.-B.
4e finaliste : Centre de formation professionnelle – Repentigny, Qube
À propos de Cintas Canada Limitée
Cintas Canada Limitée, dont le siège social est situé à Mississauga, en Ontario, est une filiale de Cintas Corporation. Cintas Canada conçoit, produit et met en place des programmes d’uniformes à l’image des entreprises et fournit des tapis d’entrées, des services de nettoyage et des fournitures de toilettes de même que des services de déchiquetage à quelque 55 000 entreprises au Canada. Cintas est une société ouverte cotée au Nasdaq Global Select Market sous le symbole boursier CTAS et compose l’indice boursier Standard & Poor 500.
Texas Convenience Store Chain Captures the Crown in the 11th Annual
Cintas’ America’s Best Restroom Contest
Cincinnati, OH/New Braunfels, TX – America voted and agrees that the New Braunfels Buc-ee’s has a bathroom as big as Texas and some of the most spotless loos in the Lone Star State, making this pit stop perfect for any road warrior and fit for a king. With 83 toilets to choose from, guests even get their very own throne!
“Buc-ee’s brand of convenience stores knows firsthand that clean bathrooms mean big business,” Cintas’ Market Development Representative, Gary Gonzaba told onlookers as he presented Buc-ee’s co-owner, Arch “Beaver” Aplin, with the top honor during a media event this afternoon at the New Braunfels Buc-ee’s.
Buc-ee’s was a fan favorite in Cintas’ annual contest beating out the other top nine contenders to take the crown in this year’s competition. America voted Arizona’s Liberty Market the No. 2 place to go No. 1. Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel in Chicago took third, and California’s Hollywood Bowl followed close in fourth-place.
The 68,000-square-foot service stop plays host to thousands of vehicles a day with passengers filling up on fuel, grabbing food and using the facilities.
“We invite everyone to stop in to try out our award winning restrooms,” said Buc-ee’s co-owner, Beaver Aplin. “Maybe Buc-ee’s will be our city’s new claim to fame, the ‘Taj Ma-Stall’ of Texas … a tourist attraction in and of itself,” Aplin said jokingly.
“Buc-ee’s has been a welcome addition to our community by creating new jobs and generating hundreds of thousands of dollars a year for our City,” said Rusty Brockman, Director of Economic Development at the Greater New Braunfels Chamber of Commerce and one of dozens of City officials who attended Monday’s award ceremony.
“At the core, this contest is intended to recognize public restroom facilities that ‘serve’ local citizens, and Buc-ee’s is the essence of hospitality when you consider it’s an easily accessible, family friendly, well-maintained, convenient and free facility,” said Cintas’ Senior Marketing Manager, John Engel.
Customers who have made a beeline for the bathroom at Buc-ee’s say this Texas-based business flushes the competition when it comes to clean. “You gotta see it to believe it,” said one Canyon Lake resident and Chamber of Commerce member who nominated Buc-ee’s for this year’s contest. “Not only do they have a great atmosphere, the restroom facilities are amazing…they are spacious, uber clean and there are plenty for everyone… I have even changed clothes there without worrying about yuckiness,” said Kelly R., a Houston resident who also submitted Buc-ee’s for consideration this year.
The 2012 contest attracted nominations from a wide range of businesses, including restaurants, hotels, concert venues, football stadiums, night clubs and museums. Ten finalists were selected based on cleanliness, visual appeal, innovation, functionality and unique design elements.
Thousands of votes were cast online through October, which produced the following results:
First Place: Buc-ee’s New Braunfels, Texas
Second Place: Liberty Market Gilbert, Arizona
Third Place: Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel Chicago, Illinois
Fourth Place: Hollywood Bowl Hollywood, California
Fifth Place: Lane Stadium at Virginia Tech Blacksburg, Virginia
*Mie N Yu, an Asian fusion restaurant known for its elaborate decor just as much as its food, has closed after nearly 10 years on M Street in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, DC. Due to the closing, Mie N Yu is no longer eligible to place in this year’s contest.
Buc-ee’s and Liberty Market will receive the coveted America’s Best Restroom winner and runner-up plaque of recognition from Cintas and secure their place in the America’s Best Restroom Hall of Fame.
Cintas launched the America’s Best Restroom Contest in 2002 to honor those businesses across the country that place hygiene and style at the top of their priority lists. “This contest is undoubtedly fun, but it also conveys a critical message that restroom hygiene matters for good health and good business and proprietors recognize the parallel between clean washrooms and customer retention,” said Engel. “We’re looking forward to celebrating our 12th year in 2013 and invite the public to nominate their favorite facility online now for consideration in next year’s competition,” he added.
For more information or to set up an interview, please contact the Survey Editor, Sabrina Zimring, at 757-338-7731.
Headquartered in Cincinnati, Cintas Corporation provides highly specialized services to businesses of all types primarily throughout North America. Cintas designs, manufactures and implements corporate identity uniform programs, and provides entrance mats, restroom cleaning and supplies, tile and carpet cleaning, promotional products, first aid, safety, fire protection products and services and document management services for more than 900,000 businesses. Cintas is a publicly held company traded over the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol CTAS and is a component of the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index.
For more information about Cintas products and services, visit us at www.cintas.com.
Victoria’s Langley Street Loo Flushes the Competition in the 3rd Annual Cintas’ Canada’s Best Restroom Contest
Mississauga, ON- October 6, 2012 – Cleanliness, convenience and customer service converge at Langley Street near Bastion Square in Downtown Victoria, British Columbia, where the City’s prized public potty offers around the clock relief to residents for free.
Victoria’s Langley Street Loo was a fan favourite in Cintas Canada’s annual contest beating out the other four top contenders to take the crown in this year’s competition. Canadian’s voted Toronto the No. 2 place to go No. 1 with This Is London Club and Earls placing second and third. The Georgian Court Hotel in Vancouver, British Columbia came in fourth and fifth place went to the Centre for Professional Training in Repentigny, Québec.
Victoria’s city council members were flushed with pride as they accepted the top honour during a media event this morning in Bastion Square.
“The Langley Street Loo is part of a larger strategy that ensures our downtown is vibrant and safe – day and night,” said Victoria Mayor, Dean Fortin. “Access to public amenities, like a 24-hour washroom, are important to our downtown community. It is even better when those amenities are attractive and innovative.”
“It’s not the most lavish restroom by any measure but that’s the beauty of a public poll, everyone’s opinion counts,” said Rod Farquharson, Director of Sales and Operations for Cintas Western Canada. “At the core this contest is intended to recognize public washroom facilities that ‘serve’ residents in surrounding communities and the Langley Street Loo is the essence of hospitably when you consider it’s an all-accessible, well-maintained, ecofriendly and free facility,” he added.
The Langley Street Loo is applauded for its open design, offering the optimal balance of personal privacy and public access. It features a unisex toilet, exterior hand washing station, graffiti proof coating, and a lit sign that makes it easy to find at night. This ready-made stainless steel facility is fully accessible for people with disabilities. The Langley Street Loo was purchased from the City of Portland, Oregon, in 2011 for $90,000 and is maintained throughout the day by the City’s sanitation crew.
The 2012 contest attracted nominations from a wide range of businesses, including restaurants, hotels, educational institutions and nightclubs. Five finalists were selected based on cleanliness, visual appeal, innovation, functionality and unique design elements. Thousands of votes were cast online through October, which produced the following results:
Cintas Canada launched the Best Restroom Contest in 2010 to honour those businesses across the country that place hygiene and style at the top of their priority lists. Proprietors recognize the parallel between clean washrooms and customer retention.
“This contest is undoubtedly fun but it also conveys a critical message that restroom hygiene matters for good health and good business,” said Farquharson, who directs sales and operations for Cintas Canada’s western division. “We’re looking forward to celebrating our fourth year in 2013 and invite the public to nominate their favourite facility online now for consideration in next year’s competition,” he added.
For more information or to set up an interview, please contact the Survey Editor, Sabrina Zimring, at 757-338-7731.
Cintas Canada Ltd, with headquarters in Mississauga, Ontario is a subsidiary of Cintas Corporation. Cintas Canada designs, manufactures and implements corporate identity uniform programs and provides entrance mats, restroom cleaning and supplies, tile and carpet cleaning and document shredding services to approximately 55,000 businesses in Canada. Cintas is a publicly held company traded over the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol CTAS, and is a component of the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index.
For more information about Cintas products and services, visit us at www.cintas.ca.
Cincinnati, OH – Will America’s next Best Restroom be the result of a multi-million dollar renovation to the nation’s largest natural outdoor amphitheater, and set against picturesque iconic Hollywood Hills? Or will Sin City’s most luxurious loo, a sprawling 2,000 square foot space inside Vegas’ Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, earn America’s popular vote? Perhaps it’s the charm of the Old World Style Craftsmanship found in the hand carved wood doors and oversized oak barrel sinks that are nestled inside Georgetown’s Mie N Yu Restaurant that will capture the crown?
We will soon find out as the top ten public toilets compete for the coveted title in Cintas’ America’s Best Restroom, the popular contest now celebrating its eleventh year.
Voting begins now! The public is invited to vote for their top pick at www.bestrestroom.com through October 26 as these top ten venues compete to secure the most votes in hopes of being crowned Cintas’ 2012 America’s Best Restroom.
The contest’s site takes visitors on a photographic tour of each facility and then encourages them to choose their King of the Throne. The winner of the 11th Annual Cintas’ America’s Best Restroom Contest will be revealed during a nationally publicized media event this fall and both the winner and runner-up will secure a place in the Hall of Fame.
2012 Finalists for Cintas’ America’s Best Restroom Contest:
Liberty Market Gilbert, Arizona
This antiquated grocery store has been transformed into an urban bistro that blends retro with recent to create a washroom space that sports a chic, polished style. Each of the five unisex stalls at Liberty Market —restauranteur Joe Johnston’s (of Joe’s Farm Grill) latest brainchild — reflects a personally inspired design complimented by a coordinating playlist to set the mood in each stall. Keeping particulars top secret until the final reveal, and working on a fixed budget, Liberty Market’s four owners and one of the kitchen brigade members designed one stall each to reflect their unique style. There’s an Italian adventure, complete with photomurals of vineyards, “Vespa” bikes and the Italian countryside. With punk rock on the stereo, there is a real men’s room featuring walls that are painted vibrant red and trimmed with black tile. A single urinal atop floors picturing tattoos and classic automobiles give the space a masculine roadhouse feel. With its porcelain wall tiles, kitchen gray floor tiles and white walls, the stall behind door number three most mirrors a master chef’s kitchen. The brushed metal fixtures accent this lavatory and the walls have the expected sharpie writing. Upon closer observation, however, one can see that the writing isn’t the usual mix of phone numbers and off color references, but rather recipes from Liberty Market’s menu. Don’t forget to look up or you’ll miss the collection of whisks, spatulas and strainers hanging from the ceiling.
Hollywood Bowl Hollywood, California
The Hollywood Bowl restrooms, recently renovated by the architecture firm Rios Clementi Hale Studios, serve an 18,000 seat outdoor amphitheater run by the County of Los Angeles. With minimal improvements made to them over the previous 30 years, the 14 restrooms were dark, dreary, and their design caused large lines to form during intermissions. Rios Clementi Hale Studios was tasked with making the restrooms feel brighter, more inviting and efficient. The renovated restrooms evoke the 1920s modern style of the Hollywood Bowl’s shell and stage. The primary color palette is a clean and simple white, with black and stainless steel accents on the walls, trim and ceiling. The floor of each restroom was painted a shade of green that was color matched to the Toyon tree, a plant native to Southern California and found around the Bowl. This color helps lead people in from the outside and also helps define the extents of the restroom. The design includes simple lines, pure geometry and sweeping paint accents that visually connect to the iconic stage’s arches. The combination of these curving lines along the walls and ceiling, and large round mirrors, help patrons see hidden areas where additional fixtures are available. In one of the largest restrooms, there is a green/red light system above the stalls to tell you if they are occupied. The restrooms were designed to save water and paper waste, with waterless urinals, dual flush water closets, automatic faucets, foam soap dispensers and hand dryers.
Gitane Restaurant San Francisco, California
In French, Gitane means “Gypsy woman” and it’s no surprise where designers drew inspiration for this restaurant’s bold Bohemian décor. The dining room space, swathed in bold wallpaper, fuses with luxe fabrics and romantic furniture to create a warm, eclectic and glam interior that integrates vibes from three decades — the Euro-themed 50’s, Hippie-Driven 60’s and the Big Bling 70’s. By juxtaposing the bold, black and white geometric tile design on the floor with soft, feminine prints of flowers and the female form, San Francisco-based interior designer Charles Doell brings a hint of the nostalgia and romance of the era into Gitane’s bathroom space. The traditional Farmhouse Drainboard Sink paired with vintage hardware and a Victorian Style chandelier adds a final touch of girly glam.
Mie N Yu Restaurant Washington, DC
The eye-popping blend of textures and colors continues cross-country to our nation’s capital where guests might mistake Georgetown’s Mie N Yu Restaurant for a Moroccan Bazaar. That’s because artists with CORE Architecture + Design infused accents of the Orient, like paper lanterns and lacquer-red shutters, to create a space with a true Singapore flea market flare. But patrons at this exotic DC diner have important choices to make besides what to eat. They must decide if they want their dinner in Turkey or perhaps Tibet because the Asian-fusion fare at Mie N Yu is served in thematic dining spaces that reflect its international flavor and are appropriately dubbed things like the Turkish Tent, Hong Kong Bar and the Venetian Lounge, just to name a few. But the journey is just beginning. Guests enter a whole new world with a trip to Mie N Yu’s unisex washroom, which is maintained by a round the clock attendant on weekends. The Old World Style Craftsmanship is carved straight into the rich dark wood that accents the face of each floor-to-ceiling stall door. The artistry continues at the communal hand washing station where four oversized wood barrel sinks face each other, positioned in such a way that invites bathroom banter. A rock lined copper basin complete with a rustic faucet sits atop each drum and completes this loo’s traditional look.
Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel Chicago, Illinois
It’s less than a year old but this latest artistic addition to Chicago’s cityscape needs little introduction or explanation as to why it’s not a regular Radisson hotel. Just take a peek inside the lobby’s loo and you’ll see exactly why we say the North American debut of Radisson’s hip sister chain, Radisson Blu, has got it going on! Thousands of reflective glass mosaic tiles wallpaper the washroom from ceiling to floor, like a giant disco ball. UK designer Jim Hamilton brings perfect balance to Radisson Blu’s flashy, edgy space by integrating solid shapes with sleek surfaces, like white marble floors and countertops that are complemented by a series of ceramic vessel sinks. Designers carry in a touch of color by lining the vanity with fresh flowers. Radisson Blu’s bathroom, just like the hotel brand, is “inspired by design and driven by function.”
Walker Art Center Minneapolis, Minnesota
In 2005 the Walker Art Center engaged the renown Swiss architectural firm Herzog & de Meuron to develop a master plan and design for an expansion that doubled the size of the museum, adding new galleries, a restaurant and restroom facilities. The Walker’s washrooms have been given high marks by restroom raters and museumgoers alike that say the stalls are art forms themselves. With floor-to-ceiling glossy stall doors that starkly contrast the black restroom walls, the sleek, modern space is reminiscent of a first-generation iPod.
Vanity Night Club Las Vegas, Nevada
From the creators of Gitane in San Francisco comes Vanity Nightclub. Hard Rock Hotel & Casino plays host to this star-studded hotspot dubbed the most luxurious loo in Sin City by the Travel Channel. Carrying a scant $1.2 million dollar price tag and donning flat screens over the urinals and faux reptile-skin walls, the men’s room at Vanity is nothing to scoff at, but it’s the women’s room that wows. Situated in the heart of the Vegas strip this lavish lair spans 2,000 square feet and features eleven stalls and six sinks. But it’s the individual vanity stations, each separately lighted and paired with red-velvet cushioned seats that really get the gals talking! The porcelain palace is also flush with gold plated faucets, gold laced curtains and finished off with a custom-designed $40,000 chandelier made from 70 hand-blown glass globes. With a cocktail waitress making rounds in the restroom, we might just argue the life of the party is in this lounge’s loo!
Da Marino Ristorante Italiano New York, New York
Restaurant goers step off Broadway’s bustling city street for a taste of Tuscan paradise at Chef Pasquale’s cozy New York basement spot. Pasquale brings his unique twist on Italian and love for quality and freshness, learned long ago in his grandmother’s kitchen in Calabria, to Da Marino Ristorante Italiano. Well known for their authentic Italian cuisine and top notch waitstaff, Da Marino has played host more than once to celebrity guests like Mario Lopez, Usher, Sara Jessica Parker and Reba McIntire. Arguably the main attraction might be the bathroom, which captures the essence of the Italian Renaissance, rich with its traditions and artistic legacy, all within the four narrow walls of the women’s washroom. Guests entering through the hand painted door find a “miniature Italian sanctuary” on the other side, complete with beautiful stone inlay detail on the walls, authentic Italian art and sculptures. A tranquil running waterfall compliments the soft Italian opera tunes playing in the background. Twinkling colored lights and candles around the room glow in festive red for a fun finish.
Buc-ee’s New Braunfels, Texas
Customers making a beeline for the bathroom at Buc-ee’s say this Texas-based business flushes the competition when it comes to clean! Offering up some of the most spotless loos in the Lone Star State, the Buc-ee’s brand of convenience stores knows firsthand that clean bathrooms mean big business! The Battle of the Alamo may explain the city’s nickname “Something to Remember,” but outside San Antonio just off I-35 North in New Braunfels, stands a sparkling restroom facility that’s almost impossible to forget! It’s hard to miss the 60 gas pumps that mark Buc-ee’s newest 68,000 square foot store. Or the 80 soda fountains inside that sit beside to the 31 cash registers. But it’s the 83 stalls in this Buc-ee’s restroom that really impress! Road warriors who frequent the New Braunfels Buc-ee’s say this one-of-a kind rest stop is fit for a King. And with 83 toilets to choose from, you even get your very own Throne!
Lane Stadium/Worsham Field at Virginia Tech Blacksburg, Virginia
Virginia Tech’s Lane Stadium may be almost a half-century old but the restroom facilities on the Hokies’ home turf are sporting twenty-first century technology! Virginia Tech modernized Lane Stadium’s loos in 2010 by installing new digital mirror displays that guarantee a captive audience for both the college and its largest sponsors. That’s because stats show that the two sure-fire stops a fan will make during a sporting event is their seat and the bathroom, averaging 2.8 potty breaks during each game. The mirror itself is essentially a TV screen with two-way mirror glass over the top. Motion sensors at the base of each mirror detect when a fan approaches. This signals the start of an ad or short school message that plays for several seconds before it minimizes and rapidly retreats to a less prominent position on the mirror. When the screen goes black, the glass shows a mirrored reflection once again. University officials say this unique, cutting edge technology is a perfect fit for the research and engineering school which asserts in its slogan that VT grads “invent the future.”
Fans can also participate by visiting the Best Restroom Facebook page, Twitter account and YouTube Channel to post comments, receive contest updates, share photos or upload videos; links to all three sites are on the contest homepage.
Nominations for any non-residential restroom accessible to the general public were accepted online through the summer. Qualifying facilities were then judged and finalists were selected based on cleanliness, visual appeal, innovation, functionality and unique design elements.
Cintas launched America’s Best Restroom Contest more than a decade ago to recognize establishments that place high value on hygiene and style in their public restrooms. “The condition of the washrooms in a restaurant, hotel or other public facility undoubtedly influences a customers overall experience,” said Cintas’ Senior Marketing Manager, John Engel.
“It’s certainly had a positive effect on our staff, which in the end, affects business. Our and facilities staff are certainly the unsung heroes of the Museum, and this recognition was exciting for them–increasing morale. I believe that shows in their continued work,” said Emily Waldren, Public Relations Manager at The Field Museum, which took the regal crown in last year’s contest.
Successful businesses recognize the correlation between clean restrooms and customer satisfaction and retention. “Cintas’ contest salutes owners and managers who invest in the upkeep of their facilities because they know it makes smart business sense,” Engel added.
It’s not too early to start sending in nominations for next year’s contest. “Whether you want to promote your own business, or bring recognition to a favorite restaurant, hotel, school or other establishment that you believe goes above and beyond in the design or cleanliness of its restrooms, we invite you to send us a name and photo,” says America’s Best Restroom Survey Editor, Sabrina Zimring.
Headquartered in Cincinnati, Cintas Corporation provides highly specialized services to businesses of all types primarily throughout North America. Cintas designs, manufactures and implements corporate identity uniform programs, and provides entrance mats, restroom cleaning and supplies, tile and carpet cleaning, promotional products, first aid, safety, fire protection products and services and document management services for approximately 900,000 businesses. Cintas is a publicly held company traded over the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol CTAS and is a component of the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index.
For more information about Cintas products and services, visit us at www.cintas.com.
Mississauga, ON- August 14, 2012– Will Canada’s next Best Washroom be a metallic mobile public toilet complete with solar powered lighting? Will it feature rustic hardwood floors and exposed ceiling pipes? Or will it showcase plush and scrumptious looking fabric in rich hues? How about floor-to-ceiling custom designed wallpaper and oversized oak wood doors? These are just some of the impressive images inside the five public washrooms that will compete for the coveted title of Cintas’ Canada’s Best Restroom, the popular contest now celebrating its third year.
The competition begins now! The public is invited to vote for their top pick at www.bestrestroom.com/canada through October 12 as these top five venues compete to secure the most votes in hopes of being crowned the 2012 King of the Throne. The contest’s site takes visitors on a photographic tour of each facility and then encourages them to choose their favourite. The winner of the 3rd Annual Cintas’ Canada’s Best Restroom Contest will be revealed during a nationally publicized media event this fall and both the winner and runner-up will secure a place in the Hall of Fame.
2012 Finalists for Cintas’ Canada’s Best Restroom are:
Finalist
Location
Restroom Features
Centre for Professional Training – (CFP) Vocational School
Centre de formation professionnelle des Riverains
Repentigny, Québec
Repentigny, an off-island suburb located just half an hour from Montréal, plays host to the Centre for Professional Training. This vocational school’s colourful washroom was designed by local architect Luc DesMarchais to capture a young, modern and attractive look. CFP is recognized as one of North America’s largest Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) training facilities, welcoming 2,500 new students ages 15–60 years old every year. The curriculum combines ICT training with regular high school and college coursework facilitating the completion of grade 12 plus the first and second year of college in just over 2 years.
Earls – King Street
Toronto, Ontario
This upscale eatery along King Street in Toronto boasts custom wallpaper designed by ROLLOUT® to reflect the Earls Restaurant brand and incorporate vintage elements in order to invoke nostalgia. Using scans from a set of original Earls menus Vancouver-based Krpan and Hoffbeck, who serve as in-house designers for Earls restaurants, crafted an image with a distressed effect that was papered to both the walls and ceiling giving these washrooms a contemporary yet charming feel. To give the space a more modern touch the women’s washroom is finished with a low profile porcelain sink, elegant cloud-like light fixtures and chandeliers. Imported, hand cut black marble washroom signage and wall tile in Herringbone Patterns are matched with contrasting textures of rough stone and rich wood throughout to complete this chic loo’s look.
The Georgian Court Hotel
Vancouver, British Columbia
The lobby washrooms inside the Georgian Court Hotel were designed in 2009 by award winning Canadian Designer Louis de Araujo of LDA Design. He extends the look of the vanity’s backsplash in both the men’s and women’s washroom by setting Petrus Pebbles into the marble countertop. Araujo’s design incorporates delectable materials like plush velvet seating with delicate chandeliers and pendent lights to give the space an airy feel. The atmosphere is gradually contrasted as the design team integrates deep blues and greys as well as wood grain textures into the men’s room. Spaces feature personal hand cloths and the ladies washroom is complete with hair spray, body lotion and mouth wash for a final feminine touch.
Langley Street Loo – (Langley St. near Bastion Square)
Victoria, British Columbia
The Langley Street Loo is applauded for its eco-friendly and open design, offering the optimal balance of personal privacy and public access. This ready-made stainless steel facility features a graffiti proof coating and combines a unisex toilet and an exterior hand washing station. The energy efficient loo is powered entirely by solar powered LED lighting fixtures and meets the ADA Standards (Americans with Disabilities Act for Accessible Design). The Langley Street Loo was purchased from the City of Portland, Oregon, in 2011 for $90,000.
This is London Club
Toronto, Ontario
In a renovated warehouse at the heart of Toronto’s entertainment district, this swanky nightclub is home to an eclectic women’s washroom. Hardwood floors and exposed ceiling pipes coupled with oversized oil paintings and luxurious seating give off the air of a modern boudoir. Complete with sleek vanities, frameless oval mirrors and elaborate sconces, the loo is fit for Marie Antoinette herself.
Fans can also participate by visiting the Best Restroom Facebook page, Twitter account and YouTube Channel to post comments, receive contest updates, share photos or upload videos; links to all three sites are on the contest homepage.
Nominations for any non-residential restroom accessible to the general public were accepted online through the summer. Qualifying facilities were then judged and finalists were selected based on cleanliness, visual appeal, innovation, functionality and unique design elements.
Cintas launched Canada’s Best Restroom Contest in 2010 to recognize establishments that place high value on hygiene and style in their public restrooms. “The condition of the washrooms in a restaurant, hotel or other public facility undoubtedly influences a customers overall experience,” said Cintas Canada’s Senior Marketing Manager Leslie Molin.
“While it may not always be top of mind when dining, we realize that the washroom is an integral part of the overall design,” said Steve Salm, General Manager of e11even, which took the regal crown in last year’s contest.
Successful businesses recognize the correlation between clean restrooms and customer satisfaction and retention. “Cintas’ contest salutes owners and managers who invest in the upkeep of their facilities because they know it makes smart business sense,” Molin added.
It’s not too early to start sending in nominations for next year’s contest. “Whether you want to promote your own business, or bring recognition to a favourite restaurant, hotel, school or other establishment that you believe goes above and beyond in the design or cleanliness of its restrooms, we invite you to send us a name and photo,” says Canada’s Best Restroom Survey Editor, Sabrina Zimring.
Cintas Canada Ltd, with headquarters in Mississauga, Ontario is a subsidiary of Cintas Corporation. Cintas Canada designs, manufactures and implements corporate identity uniform programs and provides entrance mats, restroom cleaning and supplies, tile and carpet cleaning and document shredding services to approximately 55,000 businesses in Canada. Cintas is a publicly held company traded over the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol CTAS, and is a component of the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index.
For more information about Cintas products and services, visit us at www.cintas.ca.