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Tiki Central / Locating Tiki / Trader Vic's, Honolulu, HI, (restaurant)

Post #500295 by TabooDan on Mon, Dec 21, 2009 5:22 PM

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Dustycajun wrote:

"Taboo Dan,
Those are some astute comments. I have this drink menu mailer that indicates that the original Trader Vic's in Hawaii was owned by Granny Abbott and Fred Mosher."

Geez Dustycajun, I had to look up that word for the definition. I didn't know if I was wrong right or way out to left field :)

Mo-Eye Wrote:

"Regarding the fact that they had different mugs and such, I always assumed that was just because of the location of Hawaii. Much cheaper to have mugs made here then to have them shipped in???"

I don't think so Mo-eye. Well, I shouldn't say that as this would probably have been true, but I have not heard or seen of a single location of an ACTUAL Trader Vic's using mugs that didn't come from their regular Vic's suppliers. Most commonly being in Japan.
Now I am not talking about lately, just back in the day. Trader Vic's did use different suppliers like Tepco, Morgantown, and Redwing Potteries but these mugs were available at different locations at once. I have never seen one marked specifically from one location as you do the Trader Vic Hawaii ones. Anyone else?

I just think because it wasn't a Trader Vic's in the usual way (with him running it) that this is why these mugs were created along with the different looking drink menu. This location was just doing what alot of other Hawaiian Restaurants were doing on the Islands. Having local manufacturers didn't hurt that's for sure!

Trader Vic mentions, very briefly, the Hawaii Trader Vic's in this interview from San Francisco in 1970:

"I originated the Mai Tai and have put together a bit of the background on the evolution of this drink, which has earned worldwide identification and acceptance. There has been a lot of conversation over the beginning of this drink. Many have claimed credit, including Harry Owens. The people who now own Trader Vic's in Honolulu, which at this time has no connection with the Trader Vic operations on the mainland, claimed it was originated in Tahiti .... This aggravates my ulcer completely. The drink was never introduced by me in Tahiti except informally through our good friends, Eastham and Carrie Guild."

Okay enough rambling. How about we get some interior Trader Vic Hawaii shots on here! Somebody has got to have some hidden away??!!

TabooDan