Post #778315 by AceExplorer on Sat, Jul 29, 2017 6:09 AM

Skip, your post made me go back and read Cody's post. Then I replied. But since Facebook tends to "hide" replies deeper inside of the main thread, I'm pasting what I wrote.

By the way, when I find a good bar, I go back multiple times when I'm in the area. I did this with Frankie's Tiki Room the last time I landed in Las Vegas, and the I caused my group to almost miss our return flight cuz we were hanging out at Frankie's. I could not do this in a clownish tiki bar - I'd visit, have a couple drinks, then likely not return.

Here's what I replied to Cody:
Couple thoughts, Cody. 1).... Nevermind, aw hell, forget it... You either get it, or you don't. Or you're just trying to increase business volume, which I completely understand. And if your'e doing it by bringing in garish clown tikis, then I wish you good luck cuz you'll need it. You see all around us that we have Florida Tiki which is the style of painted carvings and graphics, but mostly NOT tiki. Also all around us in Florida we have Jimmy Buffett island bars which are tropical and islandish, but not really tiki either. So if by being one of those Florida tiki bars you're going to increase traffic to your bar, I get it. But you have an opportunity to remain in the groove of the rare - the true tiki - and then figure out other things to draw people into your place. Of course, the clown tiki route will become your legacy, your team will be known as causing another abandonment of something truly cool and meaningful, in favor of the garish. My question is - can you do it without the Party City garishness and all the clown stuff? I wish you would. But on the other hand, if it's only about money and business volume, you could remodel as a sports bar like others have done when in search of more coin. Personally, I think you'll survive no matter what you do in this case. But you'll gain only negative "style points" for your efforts. And I have no clue how it will (or will not) improve your bottom line. Personally, I will tell you that a dive tiki or tropical bar is better than one with clown tiki installed. But that's just my opinion. And I spend a fair amount of money in dining and drinking establishments. But that's just me, alone, and my friends.... Again, good luck. I will always hope the Bahi Hut will make a return to something cool instead of something garish and clownish geared to make more money."