Challenge After nearly a decade of hosting free community dinners on the rooftop of El Dorado Lofts in Downtown Los Angeles, DTLA Dinner Club founder Josh Gray-Emmer needed to replace a rotating stock of IKEA furniture that wore out every couple of seasons. The goal wasn't just durability — it was to create a permanent lounge environment where 30 guests could sit together, feel at ease, and form the kind of real connections that the Dinner Club was built around. Solution Josh Gray-Emmer researched outdoor furniture materials and settled on teak for its durability, sustainability, and decades-long lifespan. Looking for a brand with a strong reputation and local roots, he discovered Westminster Teak. He sent the team a photo of the rooftop along with his own rough measurements and a clear brief: seat 30 people in a layout that felt like a high-end rooftop lounge. Westminster Teak responded with multiple full layout options designed around his space and capacity needs. The final configuration — groupings of five, arranged to encourage conversation without crowding — was exactly what he envisioned. "I wanted something local, with a brand you can trust that's been around a long time," GrayEmmer explains. "Westminster Teak delivered that. They were so easy to work with." Impact Since 2019, the Maya Collection has been the stage for over 100 seasonal dinners, hosting celebrity chefs and 30 guests per night across spring and summer. With 67,000 people on the mailing list and dinners that sell out in seconds, the rooftop has become one of Downtown LA's most recognized community spaces. The furniture has held up across every season — and the conversations happening around it have led to friendships, and at least one Dinner Club marriage.https://www.instagram.com/p/DWjkMuEDLT3/