Post #651585 by AceExplorer on Tue, Sep 11, 2012 8:16 AM

You are fortunate that you have other tiki bars within driving distance. Other parts of the country (like mine) have few or no options. Earlier this year, in a small attempt to sort of address that, and to make some sort of tiki impact in northeastern Florida, I invited a new local bartender to my home where I introduced him to tiki drinks. He loved what I shared and caught on to it very quickly. He was quite a sensation at his bar for several weeks until -- drum roll -- they replaced him with some hot chicks who were very pretty to look at but who knew only about the common pop-culture stuff that everyone else knows and sells. It was sad to see a bar on the edge of distinguishing itself from all the others make a u-turn back to what was probably considered more "safe" and "guaranteed." The bartender did start to attract a following but was never allowed to continue to develop the clientele or the reputation. So the place is now "just another bar on the bayfront."