Post #564469 by Dustycajun on Wed, Nov 10, 2010 4:13 PM

Bigbro,

That is a cool coin bank thingy. I did a little matchbook forensics to see how the Waikiki location fit into the Don the Beachcomber chain.

The early matchbooks list the various locations without mention of Donn's restaurant in Waikiki.

This goes on all the way up until Marina Del Rey and San Diego which were open in 1970.

Then, when the final Waikiki location opened at the Beachcomber Hotel in 1971, the matchbook style changed and the Waikiki location begins to appear. The Getty Corporation must have been involved with the move to the Beachcomber Hotel.

There was even a DTB corporate matchbook made for the Beachcomber Hotel location.

The Waikiki location also shows up on the matchbook for the Lahaina DTB.

Arriano,

This matchbook shows the Don the Beachcomber locations at their peak. There were 17 restaurants operating under the Don the Beachcomber banner. I would put this in the early 1980's (Vacation Village opened in 1980 and West Lafayette was open in 1982). The restaurants began closing in the mid to late 1980's. My research shows that Santa Barbara lasted until 1989.

A few more photos from Hawaii,

Another shot of the original DTB.

An interior photo showing two Leteeg paintings on the wall that was posted by Sabu some time back.

DC