Post #764336 by Ragbag Comics on Sat, May 28, 2016 1:21 PM

Certainly, the Chef itself as a physical structure isn't necessarily closing right now...

I think it's safe to say, though, that for most of us who have spent so much time there and gotten to know Betty and Duane and all the blood, sweat and tears they poured into the place over their tenure there (and how generally terrible the restaurant had become before they took over... it very nearly closed more than once) and knowing what underhanded, greedy, unnecessary and generally shitty shenanigans took place to oust them, I can say I would have a very hard time giving one red cent to the people now in charge (which extends beyond the mother, who herself is elderly and not in good health. It's not my place to get into it any more than that.)

Between when the original owner became ill and when Betty and Duane stepped in to rescue the place, it was rough by anyone's standards... dirty, cluttered, rampant issues with cockroaches and other pests, ongoing maintenance and safety issues, multiple instances of being shut down by the city, issues with the health department, having their liquor license revoked at one point.... it was not pretty. Dig back through old Yelp reviews (or the Chef page in "Locating Tiki" here on TC) and you'll see 6 or more years ago, it was not good. This is what we're returning to.

It's complicated. I know there are undoubtedly many, many intricacies and layers of detail I can't speak to that I know nothing about, but on the once-over, given the few facts I DO know and based on my own experience with the place over the last 12 years, I can say that for me, it may as well be closed..

You can see the outpouring of grief from Tiki fans, regulars and customers on their Facebook page.

--Pete