Playa Los Angeles — NBA All-Star Weekend Pop-Up Restaurant
When a celebrated Miami restaurant decided to create a temporary pop-up location in Los Angeles to coincide with NBA All-Star Weekend, the timeline was aggressive, the stakes were high, and the regulatory landscape was unfamiliar. The client needed a team that could navigate Los Angeles building and health codes quickly — without sacrificing compliance, safety, or the integrity of the brand experience.
The project required temporary structure permitting, full kitchen MEP engineering, health department coordination, fire and life safety compliance, and complete project management — all compressed into a timeline that would have stalled most firms before they started
The Outcome
Our Role
Rhea Strategies served as the lead building engineering and consulting firm for the entire buildout. Our scope included:
Building code analysis and compliance planning for temporary structure under Los Angeles jurisdiction
Health department permit coordination and food service facility documentation
Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineering for commercial kitchen operations
Fire suppression and hood system compliance review
Structural review of the temporary buildout
Full permit expediting and agency liaison
On-site project management through opening day
The Playa Los Angeles pop-up opened on schedule for NBA All-Star Weekend, fully permitted and compliant with all Los Angeles building, health, and fire codes. The restaurant operated without incident, delivering the elevated experience the brand is known for — in a new city, under pressure, and exactly on time.
"We brought in Rhea Strategies because we needed someone who knew LA and could move as fast as we do. They handled everything and made it look easy."
Results at a Glance:
✓ Full code compliance achieved under accelerated timeline
✓ Health department approval secured prior to opening
✓ All temporary structure permits obtained in LA jurisdiction
✓ Project delivered on time for high-profile event opening