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Celebrating classic and modern Polynesian Pop

Tiki Central / Locating Tiki / Trader Vic's, Honolulu, HI, (restaurant)

Post #799858 by mikehooker on Wed, Jan 8, 2020 2:16 PM

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Great work, DC.

So we know Vic and Granny Abbott opened the Ward location in 1939.
Vic was bought out by 1941. Would love to know the circumstances behind that since on future menus he makes such a fuss about not being affiliated with that location. Was he forced out? Operational or personal disagreements?
It's unclear exactly when (or why) Fred Mosher came into the picture, or when (or why) he left. Maybe as part of the purchase from Vic, Abbott needed more capital so he brought him in as a partner or investor?
At some point before 1955, Abbott's son, who also had experience in the restaurant industry, took over operations.
He ran it until atleast 1960, but maybe not past 1964 when an ad was posted looking for a lease takeover.
Spencecliff Corp bought the property in 1967. Curious if there was another operator in the 1964-67 period or if Abbott continued it til the end of the lease. The article alludes to business having been good and not many operational changes being made except upgrading the food offerings when Spencecliff took over.

As for the menu Tikicoma posted that features the Mai Tai, while the art and layout are similar, the prices for Fog Cutter, Zombie and Tonga are nearly double that of mine so I'm guessing it's quite a bit later, maybe from the 50's when Granny Jr. was in charge.