Serious Tiki Bar Survey... - General Tiki

T the75stingray Member Dayton, Ohio Joined: Mar 24, 2002 Posts: 447	T the75stingray Posted posted on Thu, Jun 20, 2002 8:43 PM Okay, this kinda goes along with TikiChris's post, but I'm hungry for the opinions of those of you whom have actually considered opening a tiki bar. (The Red Robin tiki promotion thing got me thinking more seriously about this.) 1.) Money: What do you guys think would be the minimum amount of money to properly decorate and create a solid, authentic, retro, Kahiki-like tiki bar in an area like, say Ohio? 2.) Location: A few have touched on this, but you would not want your bar to be in the center of a college district for numerous reasons; a. College kids generally stick with beer and good-hard liquor! b. Not too many college kids are gonna pay the price we would be required to purchase our beverage, (not to mention the mugs that would be destroyed or stolen in a drunken fest). I agree the "water" idea - being around a river, lake, whatever. But you have to look at property values there. You want upscale, but not unbelievably high rent district. 3.) Staff: Does anyone know if present day bartending schools even teach the old "Trader Vic" style recipes? Would the old Kahiki or Playboy Club waitress types still fly in todays politically correct world? (Would people still accept grass skirts, tiny tops and leis?) 4.) Clientel: Who would we really cater to? I mean, would we target an older "baby boomer" crowd or thier offspring, like us - the young, hip, mature, (well, I'm talking in general) adult crowd? 5.) Music: Enough said, right? Not neccessarily. Could the old 'swing' music be incorporated with the exotica or would that be inconsistant to the tiki theme? (In my opinion, I think it could be gently combined if going for that "post war" theme that generated the tiki bar craze.) 6.) Can it be done? Would it work again? Or has that moment in time passed mankind by and we are merely collectors of the artifacts left over from that pat of history? Bottom line - Obviously WE think it's a great business venture. But is it realistic? Would it be feasible and profitable? And if so, for how long? (That we can't answer). I am seriously considering this idea in my area. I would really appreciate your feedback and opinions - especially those of you who have actually thought this through at one time or another. Thanks. -C. :sheckymug:

Okay, this kinda goes along with TikiChris's post, but I'm hungry for the opinions of those of you whom have actually considered opening a tiki bar. (The Red Robin tiki promotion thing got me thinking more seriously about this.)

1.) Money: What do you guys think would be the minimum amount of money to properly decorate and create a solid, authentic, retro, Kahiki-like tiki bar in an area like, say Ohio?

2.) Location: A few have touched on this, but you would not want your bar to be in the center of a college district for numerous reasons; a. College kids generally stick with beer and good-hard liquor! b. Not too many college kids are gonna pay the price we would be required to purchase our beverage, (not to mention the mugs that would be destroyed or stolen in a drunken fest).
I agree the "water" idea - being around a river, lake, whatever. But you have to look at property values there. You want upscale, but not unbelievably high rent district.

3.) Staff: Does anyone know if present day bartending schools even teach the old "Trader Vic" style recipes?
Would the old Kahiki or Playboy Club waitress types still fly in todays politically correct world? (Would people still accept grass skirts, tiny tops and leis?)

4.) Clientel: Who would we really cater to? I mean, would we target an older "baby boomer" crowd or thier offspring, like us - the young, hip, mature, (well, I'm talking in general) adult crowd?

5.) Music: Enough said, right? Not neccessarily. Could the old 'swing' music be incorporated with the exotica or would that be inconsistant to the tiki theme? (In my opinion, I think it could be gently combined if going for that "post war" theme that generated the tiki bar craze.)

6.) Can it be done? Would it work again? Or has that moment in time passed mankind by and we are merely collectors of the artifacts left over from that pat of history?

Bottom line - Obviously WE think it's a great business venture. But is it realistic? Would it be feasible and profitable? And if so, for how long? (That we can't answer).

I am seriously considering this idea in my area. I would really appreciate your feedback and opinions - especially those of you who have actually thought this through at one time or another.

Thanks.
-C.
:sheckymug:

Post #2532 by the75stingray on Thu, Jun 20, 2002 8:43 PM