NOT A MUSUEM

WHAT’S NOT A MUSUEM?

Opening Wooden Paddle’s La Grange location took three years—and along the way, we joked that even though we’re new, we’re already full of history. So instead of just launching another restaurant, we turned the space into a living museum, sharing the story of how it all came together.

We wanted our guests to feel part of the journey—because they were. Many people watched us build, struggle, and grow. It only felt right to share those moments with them.

So we decided to transform key milestones from the build into museum-style displays, placed right where they happened. A wrong measurement that set us back? That’s a display. The first steel we installed? That’s one too.

Each moment came with a short description and a QR code linking to our Instagram and Facebook, where guests could watch our behind-the-scenes documentary series. It’s real, honest, and made to connect.