I happened to be in Phoenix last weekend for a business trip and had the opportunity to do some tiki research while I was in town. I hit the Central Branch of the Phoenix Library on Sunday afternoon. Upstairs on the 4th floor is the Arizona Room where they have copies of old area phone books. Any tiki researcher knows that old phone books are a gold mine of information. I spent a few hours going thru phone books from 1959, 1963, 1965, 1968 and 1971. Here is a list of tiki places that existed in Phoenix at one time. I have no idea what is left of these places. So this is a call out to local Phoenix tiki hunters. Print out the list and hit the streets. Report back with pictures. I am assuming almost everything will be gone or remodeled beyond recognition, ......but there is always a chance you will find that hidden gem. Good Luck!
APARTMENTS
Bali Hai, 1120 W. Washington
Park Central Lanai, 3101 N. 7th Avenue
Coral Reef , 334 W. Medlock Dr.
Tropicana, 321 W. Medlock Drive
Driftwood, 125 W. 2nd Ave, Mesa
Driftwood, 1536 Colter Ave.
Kalua, 223 East 5th Avenue, Tempe
Kin Lani, 6502 N. 12th Street
Shangri-La, 2936 N. 36th Street
Ko Ko Palms, 408 N. Williams, Mesa
Ko Ko Palms II, 407 N. Hill, Mesa
Lo Lo Mai, 4935 E. Thomas Road
Palm Tiki, 4917 E. Holly
Tahitian, 4125 E. Indian School Road
Tahitian East, 5024 E. Thomas Road
Tahitian Nani La, 6565 N. 19th Avenue
Tahitian North, 525 E. Bethany Home Road
Lanai, 3112 N. 6th Avenue
Tradewind, 536 E. Portland
Bali Lanai, 1137 E. Orange, Tempe
GOOGIE ARCHITECTURE
Galaxy Apartments, 151 N. Hibbert, Mesa
Space Manor, 6932 E. Osborn Road, Scottsdale
Stardust Arms, 109 E Broadway Road, Tempe
Coffee Dan’s, 3050 N. Central Avenue (demolished)
Denny’s #70, 3217 E. Van Buren (demolished)
Sambo’s, 1020 E. Apache Blvd., Tempe
Bob’s Big Boy, 2901 N. Central
Bob’s Big Boy, 4243 W. Indian School Road
HOTELS & MOTELS
Bali Hai Hotel & Coffee Shop, 1515 Grand Ave
Tradewinds, 1900 E. Apache, Tempe
Tropics Motor Hotel, 1902 Van Buren
Kon Tiki Hotel, 2364 E. Van Buren (demolished)
Tahiti Inn, 2900 E. Van Buren
Samoan Village, 3901 E. Van Buren (demolished)
Aloha Motel, 445 N. Arizona Avenue, Chandler
RESTAURANTS
Islands Restaurant, 4839 N. 7th (demolished)
South Seas, 32 E. Monroe
Tahiti, 4119 E. Indian School Road
The Hut, 621 W. Hatcher Road
Tiki, 4416 East Indian School Road
Trader Vic’s, 5th and Marshall, Scottsdale (old location, demolished)
Coral Reef, 8941 N. 12th Street
Aloha Garden, 6607 S. Central Avenue
Catamaran, 7501 E. Camelback Road, Scottsdale
Included Driftwood Lounge, Rickshaw Room and Captain’s Cabin
Luau, 4111 E. Indian School Road
Beachcomber Cocktail Lounge, 4434 N. 19th Avenue
Seven Seas Cocktail Lounge, 4412 S. Central Avenue
Tradewinds Cocktail Lounge, 39 S. Central Avenue
The Bikini Cocktail Lounge, 1505 N. Grand Avenue
I also found a few nice graphics...
The Samoan Village Hotel and Coffee Shop at 39th and Van Buren. Ad in the 1965 phone book(now demolished).
The same Samoan Village six years later. This was their ad in the 1971 phonebook. A prime example of how the owners quicky disassociated themselves with 'that dated tiki look'.
Tiki Pizza???
I love this ad for the Luau in Phoenix. A direct ripoff of Stephens Crane's Luau in Beverly Hills.
