Post #689256 by tobunga on Wed, Aug 7, 2013 10:37 PM

Aloha Gino!

Awesome work!!!

I was in Burbank today, and coincidentally needed to stop by a Trader Joe's to restock supplies... I'd passed the location on Alameda a few times in the past, but after seeing this thread, I made a point of visiting this location, and...

WOW!!! This is by far the Tikiest Trader Joe's I've ever seen! Approaching the entrance the terrific trading hours sign you made creates an incredible introduction to the tikiness that awaits! Not to mention the tapa patterns on the windows! Nice!

I only needed a loaf of wheat and a loaf of sourdough bread, but I spent lots of time perusing the aisles (isles?), checking out the great artwork... so inventive and inviting! I especially liked the wine barrels that looked like tikis and the little bits of tapa and tiki that were positioned along the bamboo wall along the perimeter of the store. Very cool!

Just one question... what's the story with the skunks piloting planes at checkout? Interesting, but I couldn't figure out what it meant!

OH! You mentioned that you are a regional artist... sounds like your home base is the Burbank store, but how much influence do you have over surrounding locations? I ask because our local Joe's, in West Hollywood, just west of Santa Monica & La Brea, has made a concerted effort to move away from tiki... not that there was lots in the first place... it's been redone all Hollywood, with nary a tiki in sight... which is strange, since the shopping center where the store is located is slated for eminent demolition (TJ's is the last business in the whole complex)... why update the artwork when you're not long for this world anyway?

Well, keep on getting tiki out there for the masses!

Mucho Mahalos!!!
Eric