Post #150809 by Sabina on Sat, Apr 2, 2005 6:33 AM

We were just through Columbus briefly on our midwest trip. On the way back home, we stopped off at the new 'Kahiki outlet store'.

It's a deeply conflicting experience. On the one hand, I saw artifacts from the restaurant I thought I'd never see again- and that almost brought tears to my eyes. There were some of the high backed rattan 'leaf' chairs, lamps, specific Tikis that I could remember exactly where they used to be! But on the other hand all were in this very white showroom sort of storefront with dropped ceilings, tile floors, fourecent lights, and unbearably white walls.

Apparently they are working on changing all that, their 'designer', whoever that might be, is scheduled to come in and begin to make even their outlet store more coherent, and way less white. We were there not long after they had just hooked the fountain you'll see below up to water, but it wasn't running the day we were there.

It's interesting, in that they clearly are playing on who they used to be- whether that be for branding, or nostalgia, or even genuine appreication, incorportating Tikis with large glass floats on their heads into a staircase for example in the front entranceway near the fountain. Yet knowing that the REAL Kahiki is gone forever, and the process by which these shards got here feels really strange.

I am however, glad to see old friends again, and if this new Kahiki is going to try to create even a small area where those who remember the restaurant can come and remember that's probably about as good as we can hope for for now. Perhaps someday, that could change- although even that would also be new, as the old is irreplacable.

The fountain, whose name I never knew at the time, is apparently named "George". He's behind a locked glass door in the main entranceway to the Kahiki offices- but the kind saleswoman took us in to say hi and let us take pictures of him. You can see him behind glass as you enter the store.

Here's a picture without the glass interfering-

He should be getting plants around his base very soon.

The actual outlet store has no, I repeat NO artifacts from the restaurant for sale, no menus (all but a few went during the closing night party apparently), no napkins, no dishes, no matchbooks, no structural elements, and no Tikis. The only thing they did have were Kahiki postcards- only one type, (I'll picture it later). And small leis.

On the other hand, they did have 3 mug designs (the skull, headhunter, and a kahiki barrel) which are a story. Apparently the Kahiki's old mugmaker (she didn't know who) searched them out and is recasting mugs for them- which I will photograph when I get them unpacked.

The new mugs are not marked in any way to differentiate them as being different than the old mugs from the restaurant- although one of the glazes felt a little different to me. Each of the mugs came with a Kahiki stir paddle. I found 2 that seemed to be the older(?) concave decorations and darker green plastic, and several with the newer(?) convex decorations and lighter green plastic.

Mainly, the showroom is built around a central set of freezers for all the Kahiki nibbles. They also had several Trader Vic's syrups- such as Rock sugar, Orgeat, and even Mai Tai mix.

So two more last pictures; one of the sign alongside the Columbus beltway (you can see the highway in the picture)

and the front of the kahiki plant, where the outlet store and offices are-

If they actually do bring out the old Moai to flank the entrance way, it'll at least pay tribute to the form, if not the substance of the Kahiki.

I should also mention that the saleswoman said they had taken out some advertising on Columbus radio station(s?) about the outlet store. Columbus folks might want to keep their ears open.

[ Edited by: Sabina on 2005-04-02 06:38 ]

[ Edited by: Sabina on 2005-04-02 06:40 ]