Tikiyaki Orchestra - New Year's Eve at Kona - Ticket Sales End at 12:00 Midnight TONIGHT ! - California Events

T tikiyaki Tiki Socialite The Exotic Port of REDONDO BEACH, CA Joined: May 18, 2004 Posts: 2725	T tikiyaki Posted posted on Fri, Dec 19, 2008 10:10 AM Unfortunately, no. Since Soccer Tiki sort of let the cat out of the bag, I might as well elaborate, based on mine and his conversations with Chuck. Without going into too much detail, things are not looking good. Based on the economy, I'd say any business that is in startup mode or struggling is going through the same thing, so it's not isolated. I really didn't want to use this as a ploy to get people out to the show, but this very well could be the last Tikiyaki/KONA shindig. So I'd advise anyone who is going to the show, or likes to document classic tiki establishments, bring your cameras, and video cams and get all the photos and video you can. It seems this kind of thing follows us....this past Summer it was Hukliau and the Mai Kai...supposedly they were not long for the world, but the Tiki Gods smiled and the Mai Kai and Hukilau continue. We've contacted a few big money players with Tiki interests, to see if they'd be interested, but haven't heard anything. So if you have a rich pal....hit em' up ! And before anyone goes on about how they "don't make the drinks right" or any other broo ha ha about how they "could have succeeded", just know that KONA sits on a VERY expensive piece of real estate, is very large, and takes alot of money to operate. No perfectly made tiki cocktail or decor accent can change that...not in 2008. There are really few large scale tiki restaurants left, and KONA is one of them. The Mai Kai being another, but being in a Prime SoCal location, it has to be challenging to keep a place like this going. Soccer Tiki and I have said it many times....Go there, enjoy the place, because you never know. Last night, the place was busy for a Thursday...a party in each banquet room, and people in the restaurant AND bar. People DO love the place, and not just TC people..locals, old timers etc....Lots of people will be sad to see it go. I'm crossing my fingers, and doing what I can to help, but a big boatload of cash, I don't have right now.

Unfortunately, no.

Since Soccer Tiki sort of let the cat out of the bag, I might as well elaborate, based on mine and his conversations with Chuck.

Without going into too much detail, things are not looking good. Based on the economy, I'd say any business that is in startup mode or struggling is going through the same thing, so it's not isolated.

I really didn't want to use this as a ploy to get people out to the show, but this very well could be the last Tikiyaki/KONA shindig.

So I'd advise anyone who is going to the show, or likes to document classic tiki establishments, bring your cameras, and video cams and get all the photos and video you can.

It seems this kind of thing follows us....this past Summer it was Hukliau and the Mai Kai...supposedly they were not long for the world, but the Tiki Gods smiled and the Mai Kai and Hukilau continue.

We've contacted a few big money players with Tiki interests, to see if they'd be interested, but haven't heard anything.

So if you have a rich pal....hit em' up !

And before anyone goes on about how they "don't make the drinks right" or any other broo ha ha about how they "could have succeeded", just know that KONA sits on a VERY expensive piece of real estate, is very large, and takes alot of money to operate. No perfectly made tiki cocktail or decor accent can change that...not in 2008.

There are really few large scale tiki restaurants left, and KONA is one of them. The Mai Kai being another, but being in a Prime SoCal location, it has to be challenging to keep a place like this going.

Soccer Tiki and I have said it many times....Go there, enjoy the place, because you never know.

Last night, the place was busy for a Thursday...a party in each banquet room, and people in the restaurant AND bar. People DO love the place, and not just TC people..locals, old timers etc....Lots of people will be sad to see it go.

I'm crossing my fingers, and doing what I can to help, but a big boatload of cash, I don't have right now.

Post #424882 by tikiyaki on Fri, Dec 19, 2008 10:10 AM