Post #449884 by A.R. McTiki on Sun, Apr 26, 2009 8:45 PM

Hi,

While I know this isn't pure Tiki, and is in fact, more Orientalia, I thought this place, a local family favorite since 1961 deserved a topic. (Please pardon the photo quality; they're camera phone pics--I plan on going back with my digital and getting decent ones)

Here it is originally:

And after two renovations:

(1964)

(1972)

Here are interior shots:

(note the booths with olive and charcoal naugahyde):

(wall paper detail)

(in many of the above you can also see the lovely mid-century dark wood walls, etc.)

Art on the walls is exquisitely carved and layered from shells, etc.:

The interior has been kept vintage ranging from decor to the cash register:

Here is a shot of the bar. It is dark but it is one of the highlights that I plan on getting better shots of:

And here is the owner, Ms. Edna Gin, and her son Gary Gin, who have owned it this whole time:

Now, as I have said, I know this isn't strictly tiki, but being so mid-century perfect, being kept in a nearly orignal state, and being that in the IE there aren't a lot of places such as this (as well as anyplace anywhere that serves a $4.50 Mai Tai, or their specialty, the $3.50 Yangtze Moon), I thought it was too good not to share--as well as garner support for these fine people and their establishment--and what better place could I think of to start with than Tikicentral?

You see, the building next door is a former pawn shop, since closed; the building is due to be demolished. The problem is that they share a common wall--so demolishing the pawn shop means ripping an entire wall off of a nearly fifty year old establishment in nearly original state--an utter travesty and something that will devastate the restaurant's business. Right now they are in dealing with the city to preserve their establishment, but when dealing with the city's vultur---er shark---er lawyers, they are having to watch their back at every step.

This is sort of a thread in progress, but I'd love for people to share their thoughts, etc.

Thank you for your time.