Post #329727 by Swanky on Sun, Sep 2, 2007 2:37 PM

On 2007-09-02 11:37, tikiyaki wrote:
Regarding the possibility of the Mai Kai getting sold to make room for Condos.....

Wouldn't this be a good time to get some sort of petition going to render the Mai Kai to "Historic Landmark" status ? Is there any sort of Historic Landmark laws in Ft Lauderdale ? If so, why wait until it's in danger to protest and petition ?

I say, get it going now. Maybe a nice essay on the importance of this establishment written by Sven, and a signature drive to get this place listed under Historical Preservation. Print it up, present it to the city Historical Landmark division.

Better to nip that issue at the bud, than wait until that "big money offer that can't be refused" to come in and claim the last standing Temple of Tiki from the original heyday.

I say, why wait ?

Any thought on this ?

BTW...I also concur with Sven about the coloring, but's that's neither here nor there.

The owners of the Mai Kai are against any such designation. They are very much better at keeping the place as their family has for 50 years than a bunch of freakin politicians.

Trust Dave and the family.

They have friends and I am sure, as long as they have the business to keep the place going strong in its perfect style, they will. If things come along to screw that up politically, I hope they have the right friends to keep that off their backs.

I have spent a bit of time with Dave and I see the twinkle in his eye as he talks about the place. He is a hard businessman, but has a heart of gold. His love of the Mai Kai and what it meant to his father and means to his family and history, is very deep.

There are no better hands for the Mai Kai to be in than those it is in now.

I can't wait to see the place again, regardless, but to see it back as it was before the damage will be a great great joy!