Here's Where the Kahiki Rebuild Money Went - General Tiki

T tikibob Tiki Socialite Charleston, South Carolina Joined: Jun 24, 2002 Posts: 269	T tikibob Posted posted on Tue, Sep 23, 2008 7:51 PM On 2008-09-23 06:19, Jeff Central wrote: I asked him WHY they were selling the building off and he said that there would need to be a million dollars in repairs. Although the Kahiki was an amazing place, what was left at the closing was a shell of it's former self. The building was terribly run down. The carpets were totally back and filthy from wear. The terrariums were in disrepair. The bathrooms were worn out. I could go on. Now I am not running the place down but it was obvious that the restaurant had been neglected for years. Obvious that who ever was in power just no longer cared. I hate to say it, but Tsao was probably just keeping the place going until someone made an offer. As stated earlier, it was apparent that he and Alice were just tired of the place. The source of the money to keep a place like this running and in good repair had long since gone. I talked with Tsao about a new site also and his response was canned. I never thought that he would open another Kahiki. I don't slight him for his business move. It just happens. I will say this: that August 2000 I met some of the tiki ohana that are my best tiki friends still. I still remember being there when a recorded video message from Martin Denny was play to "open" the Closing Party. It is a good memory. Maybe that is the way it is supposed to be. A good memory. I will say this, which is my only my opinion, the Mai Kai could be going the same way. It just takes SO MUCH to run these very large, very maintenance intensive restaurants. When the throws of people reduce to a trickle, something has to give. Balmy regards, Tiki Bob [ Edited by: tikibob 2008-09-23 19:56 ]

On 2008-09-23 06:19, Jeff Central wrote:
I asked him WHY they were selling the building off and he said that there would need to be a million dollars in repairs.

Although the Kahiki was an amazing place, what was left at the closing was a shell of it's former self.

The building was terribly run down. The carpets were totally back and filthy from wear. The terrariums were in disrepair. The bathrooms were worn out. I could go on.

Now I am not running the place down but it was obvious that the restaurant had been neglected for years. Obvious that who ever was in power just no longer cared. I hate to say it, but Tsao was probably just keeping the place going until someone made an offer.

As stated earlier, it was apparent that he and Alice were just tired of the place. The source of the money to keep a place like this running and in good repair had long since gone.

I talked with Tsao about a new site also and his response was canned. I never thought that he would open another Kahiki.

I don't slight him for his business move. It just happens.

I will say this: that August 2000 I met some of the tiki ohana that are my best tiki friends still. I still remember being there when a recorded video message from Martin Denny was play to "open" the Closing Party.

It is a good memory. Maybe that is the way it is supposed to be. A good memory.

I will say this, which is my only my opinion, the Mai Kai could be going the same way. It just takes SO MUCH to run these very large, very maintenance intensive restaurants. When the throws of people reduce to a trickle, something has to give.

Balmy regards,

Tiki Bob

[ Edited by: tikibob 2008-09-23 19:56 ]

Post #409646 by tikibob on Tue, Sep 23, 2008 7:51 PM