Post #449691 by Mo-Eye on Sat, Apr 25, 2009 4:26 PM

I just stumbled upon this undiscovered gem:

From the Dec. 20, 1959 Evening Independent:

New Treasure Island Club Features South Seas Aura

Newest and "most unusual supper club on the West Coast of Florida" is scheduled to open on Treasure Island in time for the New Year's Eve celebration.

It is Bali-ha-i at 10803 Gulf Blvd., presenting Authentic foods, entertainment and decor from the South Seas and other exotic lands.

Former Bartke Location
Extensive redecoration of the former Bartke's restaurant, by new owners Creative Enterprises Inc. is being pushed to completion this week, and New Tears Eve reservations taken.

The new club has been planned to rate the "exotic and lavish" label, from its Polynesian entrance to the lush tropical interior.

While the new owners expect Bali-ha-i to be a tourist attraction for this area, they stress: "The main interest of the management is to create a fine dining spot for local people."

The club will be a seven day operation, with luncheon served in the lounge, dinner and two shows nightly in the main dining room, and additional entertainment in the lounge. Managers will be Taneo and Kali Kumalae who have planned the operation. Architect is William Kovach. Artist Hal Boyer created all the three dimensional murals and decor, with the exception of the carvings by Kali Kumalae.

Known Locally
The Kumalaes, known locally as decorators and entertainers at the Black Pearl Supper Club, have wide previous experience in setting up menus, decor and entertainment in establishments featuring foreign cuisine.

Principals in the Creative Enterprises Inc. corporation include Kumalae, president; Richard Slezak, vice president; Barbara Novak, treasurer and manager of the lounge and Mrs. Kumalae, secretary.

Former paved entrance to the restaurant is to become a Polynesian longhouse, with grass front, bridge crossing water, and flanking the doorway, a mural of a polynesian girl washing hair at a waterfall.

Inside, a "moon gate" gives entrance to the Bali-ha-i cocktail lounge, the "Rain Room." Here, patrons will find the Bar of the Golden Dragon, entertainment by a Polynesian couple, Elana and Tane, all in a lush tropical setting.

Plush Decorations
The Main dining room will have a midnight sky ceiling. A gift shop and "shoki house" with thatched roof will give the room the effect of an open village. The dance floor will be backed by fluorescent trickling waters.

Entertainment includes native dancing by Taneo, Elana and Tane (in the fire and sword dance) and Hawaiian Trio, native drums and more.

Menu is "exotic" too, but includes a "good steak." Specialties will be Cantonese dishes, special curries, indonesian lamb, Middle Eastern pastries, special blend tea, Japanese sukiyaki, and tropical drinks by Hawaiian drink specialist Eddie Lassa. Eight Chinese chefs under direction of Show May will prepare the cantonese delicacies in the new kitchen.

Now, this could be one of this shortest lived tiki bars ever, having opened 12/31/ 1959, I then found that it was to be sold in a Sheriff's sale July 4, 1960!

Beach Club to Be Sold

The Bali Ha'i restaurant at 10803 Gulf Blvd., Treasure Island, has been advertised for sheriff's sale at public auction July 4th.

The establishment and fixtures are to be sold to the highest bidder, for cash, subject to all prior liens or encumbrances, including a prior Chattel mortgage to be sold at $125,000

Irving Turk of Tampa and Mrs. Belle Lefft, widow of the late Joseph Lefft, are plaintiffs. Creative Enterprises Inc. a Florida corporation, is defendant.

The restaurant, formerly Bartke of Treasure Island, was redecorated extensivley and opened as a Polynesian dinner spot New Years Eve.

I can't find any other info on what may have happened just yet. Not sure how Turk and Lefft were involved with this place, but they had other restaurants in the area and also were dealing with court cases involving hem and some "shady" real estate dealings.

Now I did find 2 ads for the place

To confuse things even further, the second ad ran in the paper July 30, 1960. So, were they still open after the auction, or did they already pay to run an ad which ran after they closed?

I'll keep looking...