Trader Vic's Bellevue WA Closes Doors! - General Tiki

W woofmutt Member Seattilite Telstar Joined: Mar 26, 2002 Posts: 2639	W woofmutt Posted posted on Wed, Aug 27, 2008 8:15 AM [As I was writing this while TabooDan posted the above. I don't feel like editing.] The location had to be a major factor in the Bellevue Trader Vic's failure. In taste and lifestyle Bellevue is far more conservative than Seattle. There are very few (if any) of the funky, cool, independent stores, bars, restaurant, and coffee shops you find in Seattle and Portland. The majority of Bellevue businesses could be found in any American upscale shopping area. Downtown Bellevue looks and feels like a large open air mall. Besides being in the wrong city Trader Vic's wasn't in a very noticeable location. It was tucked beneath a large building, about a 1/4 block in from Bellevue Way NE. The street signage was hardly noticeable, and Bellevue Way NE is one of the main access roads to Bellevue Square, the giant high end mall that is the anchor (physically, socially, and spiritually) of downtown Bellevue. Most people driving along it are looking for parking access or how to get back to the freeway. Though Bellevue does get quite a bit of business traffic (Bellevue is the main hotel location near Microsoft which always has some sort of large scale conference going on) the business people seem to travel in packs and be drawn to the familiar or trendy places. Even if they were on Bellevue Way NE it'd have been easy to miss Vic's (especially with the glitter and excitement of the Cheesecake Factory just across the street). As far as getting to Bellevue from anywhere else: 50% of the time it's a pain in the ass (in fact just now as I wrote that line the radio traffic report said "...As far as the commute some of the worst traffic is getting into Bellevue...") and the other 50% it's either annoying, difficult, or irritating. It would seem that Trader Vic's might have done better if it were actually in Seattle in a noticeable location. But despite it's Polynesian decor and fun drinks Trader Vic's Bellevue was a more upscale bar & restaurant and when it comes to real money the majority of the Ordinarys like their fancy restaurants and bars to be trendy, contemporary, and just like the one they were in last night and will be at tomorrow night.

[As I was writing this while TabooDan posted the above. I don't feel like editing.]

The location had to be a major factor in the Bellevue Trader Vic's failure.

In taste and lifestyle Bellevue is far more conservative than Seattle. There are very few (if any) of the funky, cool, independent stores, bars, restaurant, and coffee shops you find in Seattle and Portland.

The majority of Bellevue businesses could be found in any American upscale shopping area. Downtown Bellevue looks and feels like a large open air mall.

Besides being in the wrong city Trader Vic's wasn't in a very noticeable location. It was tucked beneath a large building, about a 1/4 block in from Bellevue Way NE. The street signage was hardly noticeable, and Bellevue Way NE is one of the main access roads to Bellevue Square, the giant high end mall that is the anchor (physically, socially, and spiritually) of downtown Bellevue. Most people driving along it are looking for parking access or how to get back to the freeway.

Though Bellevue does get quite a bit of business traffic (Bellevue is the main hotel location near Microsoft which always has some sort of large scale conference going on) the business people seem to travel in packs and be drawn to the familiar or trendy places. Even if they were on Bellevue Way NE it'd have been easy to miss Vic's (especially with the glitter and excitement of the Cheesecake Factory just across the street).

As far as getting to Bellevue from anywhere else: 50% of the time it's a pain in the ass (in fact just now as I wrote that line the radio traffic report said "...As far as the commute some of the worst traffic is getting into Bellevue...") and the other 50% it's either annoying, difficult, or irritating.

It would seem that Trader Vic's might have done better if it were actually in Seattle in a noticeable location. But despite it's Polynesian decor and fun drinks Trader Vic's Bellevue was a more upscale bar & restaurant and when it comes to real money the majority of the Ordinarys like their fancy restaurants and bars to be trendy, contemporary, and just like the one they were in last night and will be at tomorrow night.

Post #404413 by woofmutt on Wed, Aug 27, 2008 8:15 AM