Post #368985 by Tiki Lion on Mon, Mar 24, 2008 3:27 PM

Aloha Mai Tai Greg!
You've got a Tiki-rrific idea there: go for it!
Make a pilgrimage to Tiki-Ti here in Tiki-LaLaLand - it's the Ticoco (like Rococo, only Tiki) of Tiki bars, with absolute maximum TiPSI (Tikiness Per Square Inch).
Their extreme business model does a lot of what you're talking about.
Mind you, it's a one-of-a-kind, and no one should try to clone it, but it's worth noting how they go about doing what they do:

• They're all about the Tiki Beverages and the 'ohana that enjoy them
• Everyone who goes to the '-Ti goes both for the Tiki and for the Beverages; anyone who's been there before goes for the 'ohana too
• Mention Tiki-Ti and everyone who's been there does the Pavlovian thing - in fact you're all doing it right now as you read this!
• Tiki-Ti is about as low overhead as it gets: the entire staff is Mike, Mike, and Mark. And Gil, the master of their awesome web site
• They only light up the torches outside the front door one night a year - apparently that's enough to do the job
• There's usually someone at the door checking ID's; s/he is a volunteer, and there's always someone delighted to do this
• There's no other bouncer, no need: 'ohana take care of this on a moment-by-moment basis
• While they don't waste cash where it's not needed, they do not skimp on top-quality liquid magic: every serving takes the right stuff, the time to mix it the right way, and is worth every penny
• Tiki-Ti sells a few odds and ends (just a few), but pays its bills entirely from the contents of their glasses.
• If you completely gutted the place to the bare walls and removed the bar, you could fit a single car inside; not much more
• If you completely gutted the place and put the contents on display, it would take a museum the size of a large city block to display everything, and a library to tell the stories behind each item
• There's often a line outside, sometimes it takes a while to get in, and people are willing to wait
• They're only open Wed through Saturday evenings, for 7-8 hours
• They take vacations, and when they do, they close

Everything about the place is elegant, every bit of space devoted to one simple mission: to make and serve 86 of the best Tiki Beverages on the planet (or is it 87 now?).
Check out their web site (www.Tiki-Ti.com, natch) before going: it's a delight in it's own right, it tells you a lot about the place, including the complete list of refreshments (sorted 3 ways, including a downloadable checklist for the many who want to sample every one), and will tell you if they're on vacation (like right now. Sigh...).
What would I do differently if there were no Tiki-Ti and I were the god in charge of creating it? Very little.
But just a thought: many of us have their signature natural coconut mugs and love them, nonetheless I agree: if they sold a custom ceramic mug we would all have them.
I'm not suggesting I think they should, it's just an observation.

...and I suspect that if you let the Tiki Central 'ohana know you were coming, you might just get a royal tour of the area's Tiki establishments!