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Celebrating classic and modern Polynesian Pop

Tiki Central / Locating Tiki / Tai Ping, Los Angeles, CA (restaurant)

Post #562232 by Bora Boris on Thu, Oct 28, 2010 10:17 PM

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I drove by this place a few times a week for at least 5 years and every time I did I’d think “Hmm that place must’ve been Tiki at one time” It was covered in Lava but I never stopped. Later on while doing phone book research at the library I came across this ad :down:

"Crenshaw? Oh Shit!" I came home and did a google map search and indeed it was the same mystery place, now I just needed to go in.

From the street all you could see was the Lava wall, when you park out front then you notice the waterfall next to the door and the Oceanic Arts door pull, however that door didn’t open and I noticed there was a courtyard entrance just down the sidewalk






Upon entering the courtyard there was even more LAVA ~


The door was open and I could here water running I ran in up and over small tiki bridge :down: THIS IS NOT THAT BRIDGE!

It was this type of Tiki Bridge but with only 4 posts and they were painted green. It was going over a small stream flowing from a waterfall in the corner. I got my camera out was ready to take some pictures when I noticed the “Manager” at the bar - he said he was the manager but I think he was some sort of club promoter - his business card listed him as an “Independent Associate Travel Agent” yeah.

Me: Can I take a picture of your Tiks?

Independent Associate Travel Agent: ”No you can not!”

He wasn’t that cool but he gave me a tour of the place, all that was left was the stream, bridge and waterfall, there was a very cool sunken bar but it was mid-sixties and not Tiki and a stage to the right of that. The rest of the place was private Karaoke rooms. I didn’t have any cash on me otherwise I would’ve bought some drinks and then taken pictures, I asked again and the guy wouldn’t budge, it sounds lame but he was really adamant about the no pictures thing.

I returned with Tiki-Kate and Sven once but it was a Sunday and it was closed. I went back after that but the door was always locked. A while later I saw some construction workers out front. I thought “Oh maybe they're painting or something” but I was soon over come with despair and I knew it would be more than that. I drove over and saw another construction worker in the back and asked if they were remodeling but he didn't speak English and couldn't answer any questions but he let me in and I immediately noticed the Tiki Bridge was gone. The canal was still there but was just bare cement; it looked like the stream had ran the length of the restaurant. The waterfall was still there. I checked the dumpster and went back to work but on the way home I decided to finally become assertive and stop and take another look this time I was only able to take a couple of out of focus waterfall shots before the owner (an older Asian guy) asked why I was taking pictures?

I tried to explain that I liked this stuff and asked about the bridge but I was leading the conversation and he wasn't going to give me any real answers -

Me: Why did you decide to remove the bridge, time for a change?
Owner Guy: Time for a change.

Me: Can I take a picture of where it was?
Owner Guy: No.

It went on like that for a couple minutes before I knew I should give up and go. He then followed me out. I hope that someone either took the Tikis or that he had them in another room and hadn't yet gotten rid of them. I know it's probably just wishful thinking. Now I know why the other guy wouldn't let me take any pictures, he already knew the stuff was going to be gone soon but why not just give me a heads up?

When it was finished I read that they had the river still flowing from the waterfall covered in Plexiglas with fish swimming underneath, that sounds neat but I never made it back to see if the bridge was still there, for the past few months it’s been flashing a Closed For Repairs sign out front. I call it ~ Revenge of the Tiki Bridge! :wink: