Post #730795 by Betty Boop on Mon, Nov 3, 2014 8:14 AM

Just to set the record straight...The Luau Room was definitely owned and operated by Dobbs House Inc.the home offices were in Memphis TN.
In the early 70's I knew John Shanchuk when he was the General Manager of the Luau Room, I was (at the same time) the General Manager of another of Dobbs theme restaurant in Louisville.
FYI:
The Luau was Memphis' answer to the Polynesian-themed restaurant craze of the 1960s. In 1959, Dobbs house transformed an older restaurant at this location into the Luau, where diners walked past a 12 foot Tiki God at the entrance and then entered a lush tropical paradise with tables framed by palm fronds. It was extremely popular. The postcard on the left states "A unique experience in dining. The exotic setting of a Polynesian paradise with the exquisite flavor of authentic Polynesian dishes imported from the islands". Eventually the novelty of Polynesian-themed restaurants wore off and the Luau closed in 1982 - "... the end of an era". (See Photo)