Post #432370 by Tom Slick on Tue, Feb 3, 2009 9:58 PM

I want to make it fully clear that I was not "dissing" the place. Even under the new konahb.com website, go to their menu link which is in pdf format in the top left corner. The 'Kobe' beef burger is listed at $14 with cheese. If they don't update the website, how are the non-frequent patrons supposed to know what prices are lower? I'm only stating on what they are advertising on the website, while also strengthening my opinion that the last thing that the "failing" location needed was the 'designer' food approach. But that is only my humblest opinion. I am nobody to tell someone else how to run their business, and on that note, that's where I'll stop.

See, I loved Sam's the few times I did attend, but it just seems awfully peculiar that someone who holds the ultimate power wants the place closed, permanently. And to me, the original Sam's seemed much more approachable, wallet-wise. Not just based on happy hour prices, either. I am grateful for all businesses having happy hours, as it is an incentive to entice and attract customer support!

I agree and you are 100% correct about not losing another "tiki" establishment. I hate to lose the few establishments we have left, but we have been down this road before with this location, not that long ago, and not just once. Let me reitterate that I'd like a contact who has absolute power over the destiny of this location. Talking to a subleasee/manager of the restaurant just seems like a waste of time to me. Let us not forget the demise of Trader Vic's Beverly Hills, of which I also tried to help save. If you want things saved, you need to go to the very top and show your interests/concerns and persistence regarding said property.

Your passion and drive to try and save Kona is valiant, and I will do what I can to help you. But, it would have to be a "straight to the top" kind of preservationalist approach. If the subleasee is losing money and wants out of any contract he may hold with the property owners, then I don't see any reason why he wouldn't want investors on board, versus closing it and taking a total loss...(unless he can write the whole business off as a loss against his taxes?), which would make alot of sense being in those shoes.

Bottom line is, I really and sincerely hope the place survives the test of time, but with the current powers that be, it just doesn't look very promising. Let me know what else can be done, and I will try to accomodate the request.