chicago trader vics...now the good news....

I started a new thread with this just to make sure people would see it cause' it's that important.........this may sound like a broken record, and we've all been led down this primrose path before, most recently by kahiki but....

I went trader vics tonight and was astonished but not entirely suprised to find out that they are looking to re-open a new trader vics in chicago next year. a source told me that they are actively looking for a new site and should have one nailed down by feb. of next year.....though this is good news, it still means the end of the original location in the palmer house, of which the bulk of the decor will be salvaged but i'll bet if you go dumpster diving there in early january you will at least end up with some nice 6" dia. bamboo poles from the old ceiling as well as other wall coverings that in no way would be salvagable for a new location....again, I take this info with a truck load of sodium, but with the re-opening of the san fran vics and the scottsdale AZ. location, it seems completly plausible....I also know that because they have been still doing a really good business that it would justify opening a new place.....regardless, your last time at the palmer house trader vics will really be your last time, so enjoy it while you can and let's hope for the best as far as a new traders......

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! I am still in shock over this bit of news. I just hope that Trader Vics do open another location and not go the way of the Kahiki. Thanks for the update Tipsy!

Jeff

Well, at least there is the hope of a good TV Mai Tai still within 80 miles of me...

And maybe new management that may be more open to us with a tiki problem :wink:

Keeping my fingers and toes crossed...

Thanks Tipsy for the update!

I second that, I don't want to only be able to see Trader Vics in the the frozen food section of the supermarket (next to the Kahiki)and not be able to go to one.

P.S. Who ever told the owner of the Kahiki people went there for the food. Did anyone ever find out what was done with the decor from the Kahiki? I heard it was in storage for a "new bar" that they were going to build. What are they going to do with it now?

Did anyone ever find out what was done with the decor from the Kahiki? I heard it was in storage for a "new bar" that they were going to build. What are they going to do with it now?

http://www.tikicentral.com/viewtopic.php?topic=17475&forum=12&9

This news just came off the wire from Otto Von Stroheim:

Trader Vics is reopening in Chicago and they are announcing it live on TV (that’s television) on Feb 7

They are looking for a fire dancer in Chicago to be part of the festivities
Interested parties should email Otto von Stroheim immediately
[email protected]

The new restaurant will inherit most of the décor from the original Chicago location

See reply re: fire dancer here:

http://www.tikicentral.com/viewtopic.php?topic=18155&forum=4&1

When is the Trader Vic's supposed to open up in Chicago? Where? I unfortunately missed it on the news in February.

Anyone with any information since the last post?

"Additional 2007 openings are slated for Las Vegas, Nevada; Chicago, Illinois; Maui, Hawaii; Doha, Qatar; Amman, Jordan; and Beijing, China."

Says late 2007 for Chicago.

I heard from my contact at Harry Caray's just two days ago, and she said that they still do not have a location for Chicago.
They have seen and liked at least two places, and both deals apparently fell apart.
So they continue to search.

Thanks for the updates!

Crap, I hope it happens soon. We lost our TV in Kansas City, and Chicago is a cheap flight. I was there this spring, and the Harry Carey's is supposedly serving the TV Mai Tai until the new TV opens. I was going to go in and try it, but I was afraid.

On 2007-05-16 13:04, DemeraraDrinker wrote:
Harry Carey's is supposedly serving the TV Mai Tai until the new TV opens. I was going to go in and try it, but I was afraid.

Be very, very afraid.

Caray's is an upscale steak house aimed at tourists (on one side of the building), an an expensive sports bar on the other. They DO make Trader Vic's Mai Tais properly, and in Trader Vics glassware (or at least they did at the press event I attended last year) - but that isn't enough to lure even me down there.
As reported elsewhere, the Caray's management claim that the new Vic's will NOT feel AT ALL like Caray's and will be true to the Vic's vibe 100%.
Or so we're told.

What's the latest on the new TV's planned for Chicago?

I have no new news.

Anyone...?

Here is an update on the status of a New Trader Vics for Chicago!

We sent an email to Erik Heggen at Trader Vics Corporate to check on status and here is his reply:

Hi, Coalbe and Dave...

Thanks for your email....

The party that we signed with in Chicago seems to have finally decided on a location and he is now negotiating with the owner there, but it is not 100%
official yet.

I'm sure that once the new location is official things will move very
quickly, though we're still talking the beginning of next year at the earliest.

I am saving your email address and will let you know more as we know more.

Thanks again...

Kindest regards,

ERIK
CORPORATE OFFICE SAN FRANCISCO

Erik Heggen
Exec Assistant, Corp Office
tel: 415-927-9788
fax: 415-927-9688

Tippsy Mac,

Mahalo for the update.

that's way cøøl.

i love it that the guy's name is erik, i hope there are alot of thors, björns and knutes that work there.

I heard they are switching to a Viking theme. "Trader Torvald's"

Ooooh lordy!!! :lol:

On 2007-09-10 13:26, rugbymatt wrote:
I heard they are switching to a Viking theme. "Trader Torvald's"

Come on, don't overlook the obvious: Trader Vik-ing

:wink:

On 2007-09-10 13:26, rugbymatt wrote:
I heard they are switching to a Viking theme. "Trader Torvald's"

Imagine the drink names.

"Hammer of Thor"
"Iced Fjord"
"Odin's Revenge"
"Valkyrie""Erik's Punch"
"Horny Helmet"

Then what the mugs would look like.

Good news on the status of the real Chicago Trader Vic's.

I "heard" that the same people that brought back the Dallas location are partnering on Chicago. I also "heard" that they want it to have the "classic" look....not to knock Vegas or Scottsdale, but nothing like Vegas or Scottsdale.

On 2007-09-10 13:26, rugbymatt wrote:
I heard they are switching to a Viking theme. "Trader Torvald's"

Careful there RugbyMatt - let he who's name is not in the least silly throw the first stone ... or ... something ...

Look, if you're going to make fun of the guy's name, at least do it right:

"Thorvald" is spelled with an "h" after the "T..."

btw the reference was in memory of our favorite thor...

back to chicago!

wow between chicago and d.c... sweet...

I hope this finally comes to be. I moved to the Chicagoland area after the old location had closed so I never got to go. I'm looking forward to finally getting a Trader Vic's near me.

I heard from a very reliable source that the deal is very, very close to being signed, but the location will remain "top secret." They're still planning on the decor to be classic Vic's.

[ Edited by: Kenike 2007-10-01 07:33 ]

Yes! Soon! Please! If anyone gets wind of any concrete info (or, better yet, a press release or the like) please let me know ... I'm a writer for the blog Chicagoist and will spread the word at once.

I'm pretty sure the new Trader Vic's in Chicago is going to be at the Elysian over on Delaware. Charlie Trotter is putting together the dining for the hotel. One is fine dining. The other is "undisclosed". He's the same one doing the food for Trader Vic's on United Airlines so it makes sense. Also, people who are in that neighborhood are all saying that Trader Vic's is being built on the bottom back of the Elysian. But who knows...could be all rumor.

are you somehow involved with the project??.. it's your first post and perhaps you joined on to give us a teaser while pretending to not know anything more about it....just curious, not trying to pick on ya....just seems like an odd way to introduce yourself all of a sudden and with this particular thread...anyway, it seems you know the most about what is going on with the chiago trader vics so keep us posted...

[ Edited by: Tipsy McStagger 2007-10-29 13:56 ]

Wonderful location! Hope it's true.

I guess that was kind of a wierd way to make my first post. Let me start over. Hi everyone!!! No, I'm not involved in that project nor do I know anyone who is. Just something I heard, but from more than one person. Hope I didn't offend any of you for posting some heresay.

On 2007-10-30 07:24, chicagotiki wrote:
I guess that was kind of a wierd way to make my first post. Let me start over. Hi everyone!!! No, I'm not involved in that project nor do I know anyone who is. Just something I heard, but from more than one person. Hope I didn't offend any of you for posting some heresay.

..no one is offended. welcome aboard and thanks for the info, rumor or not, it's appreciated.

On 2007-09-10 17:35, Kenike wrote:
I "heard" that the same people that brought back the Dallas location are partnering on Chicago.

I got word today that Realty America has decided not to be involved with the new Chicago location. Don't know the details, but it's not going to affect their opening. Just FYI...

I guess the Elysian thing was not so true. Sorry! Now I see that Trader Vic's in Chicago is going to open on State Street where the Grotto used to be. (towards the end of Oak Street) What a great spot. The old place (Grotto On State)has already closed down so I hope it's quick.

[ Edited by: chicagotiki 2008-03-05 13:00 ]

Mmmm... didn't know the Grotto. But I think it must be close to Gibson's/Hugo Frog's... great place! I performed there with my band a few months back.

wonderful.....parking there is really sucky as it is located near all the frat bars on division st...and it's also in the heart of an area known as the "viagra triangle" where creepy old men try to pick up on twenty something girls and recently divorced women try to get their freak on with younger men.....should make for good people watching if nothing else...

On 2008-03-05 14:49, Tipsy McStagger wrote:
wonderful.....parking there is really sucky as it is located near all the frat bars on division st...and it's also in the heart of an area known as the "viagra triangle" where creepy old men try to pick up on twenty something girls and recently divorced women try to get their freak on with younger men.....should make for good people watching if nothing else...

Hey... I AM NOT creepy! Crunky maybe, but creepy? No... not really, really creepy...

http://chicagoist.com/2008/03/05/trader_vics_is.php

so this is for real this time?....im sick of getting my hopes up

I'm so excited! I'm so excited! Chicago ain't no Las Vegas! They gotta do it right 'round here, no "Ultra Lounge" is gonna fly!

Our NBC affiliate, channel 5, just mentioned the Trader Vic's opening on the 6 o'clock news. Said they based it on a posting on some city liquor license website. Said there was no address listed. they showed some stock footage from TV in LA.

TT

On 2008-03-06 16:26, Bongo Bungalow wrote:
I'm so excited! I'm so excited! Chicago ain't no Las Vegas! They gotta do it right 'round here, no "Ultra Lounge" is gonna fly!

..first of all, let me say that i really hope this trader vics venture is everything we hope it to be......I would love to have another place to hang out in that is tikified here......that said, here's a reality check. The area it will be in is the closest thing to vegas chicago has to offer in terms of nightlife.... I would not be suprised if some sort of club atmosphere takes shape....weekends there might be intolerable if you are lookin to relax in the atmosphere with a quiet drink and meal.......I really hope for the best, but in order for vics to survive (especially with the 10.25% tax hike that becomes effective in november) they are gonna have to cater to the vegas type crowds.. it's just the sad reality. what was cool about the old location in the palmer house was that most of the numb skulls didn't know or care about it...if it wasn't advertised in front of their noses they didn't really go there.....which always made the place full of hip folk that wanted to be there and older folk and tourists staying at the hotel....always had a mellow vibe, which is what you would expect of vics......i hope i'm wrong. we'll have to wait and see.......

On 2008-03-06 16:46, Tipsy McStagger wrote:

..first of all, let me say that i really hope this trader vics venture is everything we hope it to be......I would love to have another place to hang out in that is tikified here......that said, here's a reality check. The area it will be in is the closest thing to vegas chicago has to offer in terms of nightlife.... I would not be suprised if some sort of club atmosphere takes shape....weekends there might be intolerable if you are lookin to relax in the atmosphere with a quiet drink and meal.......I really hope for the best, but in order for vics to survive (especially with the 10.25% tax hike that becomes effective in november) they are gonna have to cater to the vegas type crowds.. it's just the sad reality. what was cool about the old location in the palmer house was that most of the numb skulls didn't know or care about it...if it wasn't advertised in front of their noses they didn't really go there.....which always made the place full of hip folk that wanted to be there and older folk and tourists staying at the hotel....always had a mellow vibe, which is what you would expect of vics......i hope i'm wrong. we'll have to wait and see.......

I couldn't agree more.

TT

I heard last night that they're shooting for a mid-August opening (which probably means October). At least the end/beginning is in sight! I got this info from my Dallas contact who has been flying to Chicago every week (the Dallas group I previously mentioned was not going to be involved is now involved again). He also said it's definitely NOT going to be like Vegas or Scottsdale.

.. i realize that they probably are sincere when they say that it won't turn out like trader vics vegas or scottsdale (who in their right freakin mind would aspire to such lows??).....but what they fail to realize, is that the customer base they are going to attract by placing it in that area, are precisely the type of folk that would feel at home in trader vics vegas or scottsdale....however well meaning the owners intentions, sadly, they do not get to choose their clientele...they will ultimately be stuck with a bunch of squares, especially on the weekends, jammin to a D.J. spinnig rap and hip hop tunes.....because that's all there is in that area.....very much like what is happening at tiki terrace now on the weekend.....I hate to be cloud on a sunny day and i really hope i'm wrong here, but i have been led down the primrose path like this before, each time full of hope that perhaps this is the time someone will get it right...only to find that once again, it's nothing but a big dissapointment........we shall see.....

Wow, mid-August would be dreamy! My birthday is August 22. What a place for a party!

As Tipsy says... we shall see...