Post #570712 by THOR's on Fri, Dec 31, 2010 6:00 AM

Today's out take is the second of the three (lost) "Thor Stor" locations. This one was on Lewers Street before moving across to the new Beachwalk complex. Now, the third location has been replaced by the "Diamond Head Gallery" and has some of Thor, Dennis Mathewson and other artists work.

Hey Phil!! Great book...Let me help with filling in some back story facts here regarding Thor Stors.... Since many have asked about history of "Thor Stor"

When we were on Kalakaua Ave. We were doing GREAT. We received raves of appreciation and returning customers and building our dream to bring Tiki back to a place that was losing it's appreciation for the culture rapidly. The first Thor Stor was ALL about celebrating the Poly Pop culture and Tiki. Max and I had built the entire interior and the place was packed to the gills daily. People would walk in smiling, savoring the spirit and vibe we worked too cultivate. We supported many fellow Tiki product creators..Holden will tell yah we had a display of Tiki Farm mugs that no other location in Hawaii could compare to. Local artist like Gecko were all part of this Ohana we embraced. We supported all the Tiki Ohana enchantment and energy was buzzing that you could feel when you walked in that place.

But after just over a year, the building Land Lord kicked us out just as we were really rolling because Jimmy Buffet wanted to lease the entire Beachcomber building from where the old Don Ho Show was above us down through the Thor Stor. ..and money talks! Today in the first Thor Stor Location and above it we have "Margaritaville"........(silence).

Publishers of the Thor program then thought it a good idea to put the Stor on the new Beachwalk project location on Lewers tat was just developing. BIG MISTAKE! We had a VERY tiny Stor. (seen in photo here)...and no one could find us. Terrible traffic and location. All businesses opening on Beachwalk were suffering like mad.

Tabora Gallery across the street near the Yard House looked a little better we thought, maybe, but they were doing so poorly selling art they offered the location to us and Publishers, who co-owned the lease with Tabora and so, moved us across to there. But that was beginning of the BIG economy plunge....and traffic was terrible, and the publishers kept saying "Tiki" was part of the issue..that no one really cared about the vintage stuff..the Tiki Culture..etc in Hawaii. My whole goal was MORE atmosphere and Tiki immersion in the stor's...like the first Thor Stor. This is what made it work.

It wasn't just about selling paintings to those with the large expendible incomes..it was about a vibe..a warmth and offering some piece of this to take with you, be it a mug for 15 bucks or prices and things all in between. Yes, larger original art and collector art as well that I created. It was an experience as well as a place to buy some thing that spoke to you. We developed great friendships with our customers and other business owners...and spent many nights after shows/signings when we would go to Duke's or La Marriana with customers that kept returning and became our new friends.

Well, I was out voted, the "Stor" was stripped of any remaining Tiki character or atmosphere and publishers told me "high end gallery" look was what Waikiki wants now....and so this destroyed the entire momentum Max and I wanted in the beginning. The warmth and character of vintage past was flushed out once again. I heard from countless customers that the entire feel and charm was "sterilized" and frankly, I didn't know what to say...it was out of my hands.

With Max onto other projects in Waikiki, and a string of horrid management replacing that void, the main Thor Stors disintegrating to a vanilla shell Gallery with mixed art. This totally took away my passion to participate and so today it is back to a "High end Art Gallery" and I have supported far less of my work contribution today.

It does not attract ANY of the same customers as those who are drawn to my style of work. A recent discussion I had with the current manager at that location said it all for me. "Thor, if you would paint less crazy sh..t and do some flowers or moons over the water...you would clean up here at this location!". I will leave it at that.

For now, the only Thor Stor is in Honolulu, as part of the NEX mall, though it is doing extremely well. Max and I themed that one out about three years ago. But stay tuned for future...."real" Tiki as most of you know and can feel will keep re-emerging...and I will plant the seeds always to support that spirit as an artist over dumbing down any of my images or inspiration, simply to sell to the mainstream. It is this pattern that seems to break down Tiki whenever it rises from the ashes. But I believe in the Tiki community..that we are all too stubborn and passionate to ever let this spirit die...for the last time.

Aloha, THOR

[ Edited by: THOR's 2010-12-31 06:53 ]