Trader Vic's vs. McVic's...Pros, Cons or Double Edged? - General Tiki

UJ Unkle John Tiki Socialite Middle-of-the-Ocean, TX Joined: Oct 22, 2003 Posts: 1217	UJ Unkle John Posted posted on Wed, Feb 24, 2010 7:30 AM Well I've been reading these threads for awhile about Micky-V's (as the cool-hip thugz will call it) and have to say that it's a shame that Trader Vic's has to go this route to survive as a company. Let's, for a moment, take away the saving original places and all that jive, and look at it from the point of view of someone who has to travel to get any decent type of Polynesian experience. I live in West Texas, it's flat and barren out here. Places to eat out here are almost as dull as it's people. True, there are a few diamonds in the rough, and I patron them when I'm in town. For any South Pacific/Oriental experience, we have a plethora of oriental places to eat and only one small family run Polynesian restaurant (which is lacking in the decor and drinks compared to TV, but at least it's something). I live in the land were people think that Chilis, Applebees, and other chain restaurants are "the place" to spend your well earned money to take your family to and "the place" to "be seen". Sorry, but not much sophistication there. I personally despise those places, but that's not relevant to the topic. If Trader Vic's (for some reason) was to open an original style restaurant here, they wouldn't survive. People out here don't want to spend $20 on a plate with "a hockey puck sized glob of tuna with a fancy drizzle on it". A Micky-V's would go great out here, and from a business stand point it would be a potential money maker and an opportunity that shouldn't be missed.I hate to side with Trader Vic's, but in order to survive they must expand their options, that's just part of business. Will I patron a Mickey-V's? Probably, just to check it out but I don't see myself being a regular. Do I expect it to be like the Dallas TV? No, not in a college town like this one. Would one survive? Probably. Am I thrilled that TV is opening Bar and Grills? Not really. There are places where sophistication is viewed differently. I see sophistication like the rest of you. When I go into a tiki based establishment, I expect a certain type of charm, I expect to feel like I am vacationing at an exotic resort or some place on the islands. I want that fantasy broken when I step out into the real world. Micky-V's will not do that for me. To me, it looks like Joe's Crab Shack. Hell, I don't "feel" like I'm at the coast when I step into that place either. I don't expect Micky-V's to look and act like anything an original Trader Vic's has to offer, it will be just another "bar and grill" that's tropical themed. No sophistication, just screaming kids and "happy birthday" hand claps and chants.

Well I've been reading these threads for awhile about Micky-V's (as the cool-hip thugz will call it) and have to say that it's a shame that Trader Vic's has to go this route to survive as a company. Let's, for a moment, take away the saving original places and all that jive, and look at it from the point of view of someone who has to travel to get any decent type of Polynesian experience.

I live in West Texas, it's flat and barren out here. Places to eat out here are almost as dull as it's people. True, there are a few diamonds in the rough, and I patron them when I'm in town. For any South Pacific/Oriental experience, we have a plethora of oriental places to eat and only one small family run Polynesian restaurant (which is lacking in the decor and drinks compared to TV, but at least it's something). I live in the land were people think that Chilis, Applebees, and other chain restaurants are "the place" to spend your well earned money to take your family to and "the place" to "be seen". Sorry, but not much sophistication there. I personally despise those places, but that's not relevant to the topic. If Trader Vic's (for some reason) was to open an original style restaurant here, they wouldn't survive. People out here don't want to spend $20 on a plate with "a hockey puck sized glob of tuna with a fancy drizzle on it". A Micky-V's would go great out here, and from a business stand point it would be a potential money maker and an opportunity that shouldn't be missed.I hate to side with Trader Vic's, but in order to survive they must expand their options, that's just part of business.

Will I patron a Mickey-V's? Probably, just to check it out but I don't see myself being a regular.
Do I expect it to be like the Dallas TV? No, not in a college town like this one.
Would one survive? Probably.
Am I thrilled that TV is opening Bar and Grills? Not really.

There are places where sophistication is viewed differently. I see sophistication like the rest of you. When I go into a tiki based establishment, I expect a certain type of charm, I expect to feel like I am vacationing at an exotic resort or some place on the islands. I want that fantasy broken when I step out into the real world. Micky-V's will not do that for me. To me, it looks like Joe's Crab Shack. Hell, I don't "feel" like I'm at the coast when I step into that place either. I don't expect Micky-V's to look and act like anything an original Trader Vic's has to offer, it will be just another "bar and grill" that's tropical themed. No sophistication, just screaming kids and "happy birthday" hand claps and chants.

Post #513092 by Unkle John on Wed, Feb 24, 2010 7:30 AM