Post #436355 by Chip and Andy on Wed, Feb 25, 2009 11:08 AM

May I make a suggestion?

Instead of focusing on the past history of the Tonga Room and what a great place it has been..... can we focus on what a great attraction the place could be going forward?

Here's why:

The owners see the place as making money, or not making money. They may have their hearts in it, but ultimately it is the wallet that makes the decisions. If we can collectively focus their attention to the fact that the Tonga Room is a marketing opportunity that can be a business draw, then the place will have a better chance of survival. How many other places in San Francisco can claim oldest continuous bar, tiki bar, what ever marketing speak you want to use but the fact remains that few other places in town can make the claim to still be around after this many years.

If we as a group of Tiki-philes can make the owners see it as an opportunity, then we as Tiki-philes might be able to save the place for our own enjoyment. I think in the business world they call that win-win....