Faint Tiki pulse in Columbus, Ohio - General Tiki

T templartiki Member Columbus, OH Joined: Dec 23, 2003 Posts: 11	T templartiki Posted posted on Mon, Dec 29, 2003 11:52 AM There are some other aspects of the story - passed on to me via the restaurant grapevine - which put a little different spin on things. I was told that Michael Tsao actively sought a buyer for the location and Walgreen's was who obliged. In addition, it appears Tsao has had some very unreal expectations that the city would essentially donate him some prime real estate to relocate. Finally, I would have ranted about the management of the Kahiki well before it was gone - inadequate pay and benefits drove out the competent kitchen people, for example. I detest chains as much as anyone, but blaming Walgreen's misses another side of the story. A. On 2003-12-29 09:28, bigbrotiki wrote: Not to defend Michael Tsao, because that would defend the destruction of the Kahiki, but just to point out the facts of life, the existence of different realities: What would you have done if, after laboring for 30 years in the restaurant business (he started at Trader Vic's), you would get the (maybe once in a lifetime) chance to retire and be set up with your family for the rest of your life with the money Walgreens was offering? It is just a sad fact that most of the time the survival of a Tiki Temple (or other 20th Century gems) comes down to mundane economics. Wallgreens, Wallmart, whatever, are just faceless giants that don't care about the damage they cause.

There are some other aspects of the story - passed on to me via the restaurant grapevine - which put a little different spin on things. I was told that Michael Tsao actively sought a buyer for the location and Walgreen's was who obliged. In addition, it appears Tsao has had some very unreal expectations that the city would essentially donate him some prime real estate to relocate. Finally, I would have ranted about the management of the Kahiki well before it was gone - inadequate pay and benefits drove out the competent kitchen people, for example.

I detest chains as much as anyone, but blaming Walgreen's misses another side of the story.

On 2003-12-29 09:28, bigbrotiki wrote:
Not to defend Michael Tsao, because that would defend the destruction of the Kahiki, but just to point out the facts of life, the existence of different realities:
What would you have done if, after laboring for 30 years in the restaurant business (he started at Trader Vic's), you would get the (maybe once in a lifetime) chance to retire and be set up with your family for the rest of your life with the money Walgreens was offering?

It is just a sad fact that most of the time the survival of a Tiki Temple (or other 20th Century gems) comes down to mundane economics. Wallgreens, Wallmart, whatever, are just faceless giants that don't care about the damage they cause.

Post #66796 by templartiki on Mon, Dec 29, 2003 11:52 AM