On Solid Footing: How Ecore Flooring Enhanced Comfort and Safety at Luca Restaurant

After 5 years of success with their first restaurant, Leeann and Taylor Mason decided it was time to open a larger venue so more people could enjoy their food. The husband and wife duo conceived and opened Luca, an upscale wood-fired Italian restaurant in Lancaster, Pa. To ensure the comfort and safety of their employees, they sought a flooring solution for the kitchen that was both ergonomic, restorative and slip resistant. Innovative flooring from Ecore turned out to be the perfect recipe for the Italian eatery.

One particular issue they had faced in their previous establishment was the mats on the kitchen floor. They had holes that collected dirt and moisture and cleaning them was a chore that made them hazardous for slips and falls. Drying them was even worse as they had to be flipped over, propped up or hung, which was both time-consuming and left bare floors even more prone to slipping.

“The process of drying mats was so counterproductive, and no one wants to work on a line all night and then clean mats,” said Leeann Mason. “The mats also offered very little in ergonomics.”

When designing the layout of Luca, the Masons wanted flooring that was water resistant and also that offered more comfort. Long-time customer Art Dodge, CEO of Ecore, suggested they consider resilient flooring for their new establishment. The Masons agreed and, after talking with their Ecore sales rep about their specific needs, decided on Ecore’s HydroGrip Motivate flooring in slate grey color for the new space.

HydroGrip Motivate was installed in the new restaurant’s two kitchen areas, including the production kitchen that encompasses the entire lower level of the restaurant and also in the open-line kitchen that patrons can view from their tables.

HydroGrip Motivate is an engineered surface with a slip-resistant safety surface layer fused to a 5mm vulcanized composition rubber (VCR) base layer. The flooring offers superior slip resistance in addition to ergonomic support and comfort under foot, which makes it ideal for wet areas and other commercial spaces where safety is a top priority. The flooring also eliminates the need for an underlayment, reducing the overall cost of installation, and the easy-to-maintain surface is hygienic due to its heat-welded installation.

Floored by the Benefits

It didn’t take long for the Masons to appreciate the benefits of the flooring. They were particularly impressed with its water resistance, ease of cleaning, and slip-resistant properties. They no longer deal with the hassle of cleaning and drying out mats, and the slip-resistant features make the floor safer for employees.

The HydroGrip Motivate flooring also offers ergonomic support and comfort for employees who stand for six to eight hours a day, while also offering an appealing aesthetic for the space.  

“We really appreciate aesthetics and the Ecore flooring has a very nice look,” Mason noted. “Just because it’s a restaurant kitchen doesn’t it mean shouldn’t have an attractive design.”

Luca Restaurant has been using the Ecore flooring for several years now, and they report that it is holding up well with no divots or variation. Best of all, the staff enjoys working on the flooring, and the Masons appreciate that their employees no longer complain about tired legs and feet.

“The best feature of the Ecore flooring is by far the comfortability,” said Mason. “Many of our employees have stated how much they love the flooring. We can stand on it for hours and it’s so nice having a product that will support people working on their feet for hours.”

Overall, Ecore’s HydroGrip Motivate flooring has proven to be a great investment for the Masons. “I would absolutely recommend other restaurants invest in Ecore flooring because the long term benefits are so worth it,” Mason stated.

About Ecore:

From the patient room to the classroom to the weight room to the playground, Ecore empowers human performance with safe, quiet, and ergonomic surfaces. Our team is driven by the question: can a floor do more? For Ecore, the answer is “yes.” We transform reclaimed materials into performance products that make people's lives better and strive for a planet free of rubber waste. Built on a legacy that began in 1871, our team designs innovative solutions for many industries, including healthcare, hospitality, education, retail, wellness, sports, and fitness. Ecore, headquartered in Lancaster, PA, serves customers in more than 75 countries. Learn more at www.ecoreintl.com.