Post #22799 by tikibars on Wed, Feb 12, 2003 2:28 PM

Here are a few other things to keep in mind about modern-day neo-Tiki Bars:

First off, the general public has forgotten the meaning of the word "lounge". My dictionary defines the word as: "To move or act in a lazy, relaxed way; To pass time idly.". Almost everyone who goes into bars or clubs these days (this is starting since the disco era and has not ceased since) wants to 'party'. They want raucus music, a 'crazy good time', and loud debauchery. That, or they want their 'corner bar' vibe, where they can have their shot n' beer and watch football with their buddies.

Those of us who crave a lounge where we can lounge are a very, very small minority. Remember that for many TC-ers, our social circles are filled with people in the Tiki or Lounge communities, so it SEEMS to us like there are more of us than there really are. But we are very few. Certainly the Tiki Fad we are going through right now is attracting new people, and some of them will stick around after the Tiki Fad has subsided, which it will, and very soon, but a majority of the people who are new to Tiki in the past year or two will be gone from the scene in another year or two.

Anyway, we see the word "Lounge" in the names of bars and clubs all the time, but the vast, vast majority of the public doesn't make any differentiation between a "Lounge" a "Bar" or whatever - they're all places to get loaded, watch football on TV, 'rock out', or pick up chix. Many of the new Tiki fans are among this community as well, not having fully grasped the idea of "lounge" or going out to a place to relax, not to get crazy.

It is economically unfeasable to undergo the expense of obtaining a liquor license, a lease, a staff, insurance, security, decor, and a stock of liquor in order to cater to a community as small as ours.

If there was a spectacularly cool neo-Tiki bar in your neigbohood, how often would you go?
I mean really, once a week or so? If that?
How many Tikiphiles and lounge lizards live in your city?
If you're in California, that's one thing, but the rest of the country?

Bottom line is: Neo-Tiki Bar owners have to look at their bottom line and please 'all the peope all the time', as much as possible. Rock music, fast food, and TV's are what Joe Square wants, so that's what he gets - otherwise, there will be no bar at all.

The majority of the people who are opening Neo-Tiki Bars are doing it because it is the latest fad. They don't give a shit about the history, the culture, the legendary forefathers of Tiki... they just want to open a 'cool' watering hole, and make their money. Tiki is a a way to do that (yes, there are exceptions - some of the owners are truly passionate about Tiki, but they are few).

Our choices are to put up with the crappy aspects or to not have these places at all.

Now, lest any one think I am rationalizing or justifying garbage (and anyone who has read my web site will know that I have no compunctions about lambasting places for the very things I seem to be defending above - i.e. TVs, Budweiser, loud knucklehead clients, etc), let me say that I would worship a truly genious Neo-Tiki bar with all the reverence due. I don't LIKE these negative aspects of the newer places, but we have to put up with them because it is the economic reality of doing business right now, in a time vey different from the days when our classics were built.

Hala Kahiki, Tiki Ti, Mai Kai, and Kahiki were all built in a seven-year period between 1955 and 1962. Things were differernt then.

If we want new Tiki Bars, we are going to have to put up with modern aspects to them.

This stinks, but it is the harsh reality of our economy.

That said:

Can anyone tell me the name of a Tiki Bar built since 1985 that is TRULY on a par with the classic Tiki Bars of yore?

I can't think of one - some come close, some have great aspects to them, but none truly RULE.

It is for all of these reasons that we need to appraise Neo-Tiki with a different set of criteria than classic Tiki.

We cannot compare Ottos, Taboo Cove, Waikiki Wally, Rock-A-Tiki, PoliTiki, or whatever to Mai Kai, Kahiki, and Tiki Ti, because there is a 40-year gap bwtween them. Rather we need to compare Ottos, Taboo Cove, Waikiki Wally, Rock-A-Tiki, PoliTiki or Tiki Bar (Pittsburgh) against each other, with a different set of standards than we apply to the classics.

Now all of that said - Wally's probably serves drinks in chipped mugs because Tiki Farm mugs (LOVE 'em!) are damned expensive! Even Dynasty mugs are 1/3 the price (wholesale), but we love the Tiki Farm mugs, and Wally's serves drinks in 'em! So our choices are to get a chipped one, or get a pint glass.

Similarly, Rock-A-Tiki does have cheezy menu graphics and loud music, but look at the decor - it RULES. Go early, and it'll be nice n' quiet. And the food is good. Get there early enough to program the juke with all-Exotic for the night (there IS some in there!), and your troubles are solved.

These things are what we make of them.

Okay... enough...

Iorana!

James Teitelbaum
webmaster: Tiki Bar Review Pages (since 1994)
author: Tiki Road Trip (pre-order it now!)
creator: Left Orbit Temple (volume II coming soon)

[ Edited by: tikibars on 2003-02-12 14:35 ]