A time to every season: Farewell Trader Vic's SF.

It is with a heavy heart that I must sadly report that Trader Vic's San Francisco has closed its doors.

All the decor and supplies are headed back to the warehouse, and I'm sure are bound for another location.

I am particularly saddened as it is where I cut my chops under the watchful eye of my now manager Jim Shoemake, the mighty Sonya Runkle, and of course, my dear old Lars Hilldebrand.

Yavuz was an excellent manager who did the very best he could, and always went the extra mile for Tiki Central and the Tiki Crawl.

A lot of great people were employed there and it was my pleasure to work with them, even if only for a short time.

We've all said it here before, but it certainly bears repeating:

Support.

Your.

Local.

Tiki.

Bar.

There but for the grace of god go us all.

Sorry to start the new year on a downer, but take off you hats and raise a Mai Tai tonight to another lost Vic's.

Mahalo,

Martin

[ Edited by: martiki 2007-12-31 22:41 ]

So when is F.I. Vegas gonna happen???!

Ben sure can lighten a subject, thats why we all love him! :wink:

martin, you know if there was an F.I. vegas i'd be there every night. that sucks big time as i was looking forward to spending a night there with all of you guys. i can help with the vegas plans . . . i haves skilllzzz . . . .

Martin. I hope you are kidding. I just came back from Traitor Vic's in Las Vegas and I'm still in shock.

Martin sprung this on us this New Year's Eve, with the announcement at our table of "I have some very sad news for you guys!" We were thinking that maybe the fire marshall was shutting down Forbidden Island for the evening, even though it was a private party that wasn't close to over capacity.

It took a minute for the news to sink in to us - after all, we were all fairly buzzed at that point (and some of us still are :D ), but hey, the news still sucks. I can't believe that this is the first thing i'm posting on for any online forum for 2008. Hey, the locals around here tried to make the best of the place, especially while Martin, Jim, Lars, and Sonya still worked there. We were pretty much the only folks to show up there on Monday nights! I feel bad for Trader Vic's, and wish them nothing but the best in the future - lord knows Yavuz, along with everyone else, did what they could to keep the place afloat in the old Stars Cafe location for as long as they could. And let me re-iterate what a pleasure it was to work with Yavuz for the 2007 Tiki Central Tiki Crawl, and what stellar service he gave to us, including the Mai Tai boat, and all the cool give away schwag as well.

A moment's silence for Trader Vic's San Francisco. And let me repeat what Martin said:
Support Your Local Tiki Bar!

Very Sad,

I was only there twice but had lots of fun each time.

Seems like Trader Vic's is getting stealthier with each close.

I will miss it.

Damn,
thats horrible, and I was just in the Bay area in Oct. and Dec.
and didn't make it.

I hope the same fate is not in store for the Emmeryville one.

Jeff(bigtikidude)

This is sad, but I don't think anyone should be too surprised. After all, the Bay Area is kind of TV-saturated compared to the rest of the US, and there's a lot of competition from other tiki bars in the general vicinity. Out of the 3 Vic's in the BA, I thought the SF one was the least impressive, so losing it isn't as painful as losing the Emeryville or Palo Alto locations would be.

We will certainly miss SF Trader Vics' - our favorite stop off point whenever in the City. Actually, it was the first place I headed to after I picked up the business license for Forbidden Island.

Sadly, the end has been evident for some time now. Our last few visits have had us being the only folks at the bar (on a weekend night) with a myriad of open tables and ever changing bar staff. On a recent Xmas shopping trip, we escaped the madness that was Union Square and caught a cab to Vics, only to discover that they had changed their hours (again) and were now closed till evening. On another occasion, they were just closed.

SF Vics was without a doubt, the best place to order a Trader Vic's Stinker. Emeryville tries to duplicate Lars' unique recipe for me, but it never quite tastes the same.

Really, really sad. SF Vic's ... you will be missed.

Now can someone please help them move some of the decor to TV Las Vegas.

Well that sucks. When (if) TV's Kansas City opens this fall I'll photograph the decor extensively and we'll see if any of the SF goodies made it inland.

wow. i'm really glad we went on Thanksgiving Weekend. i thought it was odd, that TVSF would close at 11:30 on a Saturday evening.

Well,
At least I had the privilege of going there a number of times.
Better than reading about the ones here on TC that were closed before I was into this.

A good thread down memory lane.

Maybe they should have put in a waterfall. :)

Emeryville has much more of a following than SF. It's the oldest and it holds sentimentality in literally generations of families -- who utilize it for a multitude of occasions. Beyond the "special occasion use", business people seem to be utilizing it as well. Interestingly enough, it's also a hangout for some of the locals of all adult ages.

The several times I've been in during lunch and early afternoon, they had customers in there. Unlike SF, the East Bay is perhaps not as competitive in the category that TV is in..so hopefully with continued support, it'll be okay. I understand that for Thanksgiving, they were nearly booked out.

Despite all this, we locals do need to support it more. Therefore, I'm going to propose a monthly visit there...between that and Weds at FI, and Conga Lounge forays, that'll about tap us out...

And a note regarding TV SF and Yavuz. He was an exceptional manager to work with, the epitome of professionalism. I had the honor of working with him in an outside business capacity and he was a pleasure to work with. Thanks SF TV for memories and great drinks!

On 2008-01-01 12:19, bigtikidude wrote:
Damn,
thats horrible, and I was just in the Bay area in Oct. and Dec.
and didn't make it.

I hope the same fate is not in store for the Emmeryville one.

Jeff(bigtikidude)

[ Edited by: Coco Loco 2008-01-01 15:11 ]

A shame!
I am glad I had the chance to visit it when I did.

On 2008-01-01 11:48, Bora Boris wrote:
Very Sad,

Seems like Trader Vic's is getting stealthier with each close.

You can say that again...I wonder if it had to do with any of the ruckus we tried to make in hopes to try and save the BH location?
I think that is less than a stellar approach not letting the public know in a timely advance to arrange a final farewell visit. Makes me wonder about the head hanchos descisions at corporate, just to shut doors on the day they let the employees know...."By the way, here's your last paycheck, thanks!" type attitude is pretty shady. Godspeed to the former employees, and hope that it will be a positive change for all.

Very sad. One more TVs I'll never see. I actually hope the decor DOESN'T go to Las Vegas. That would be like sending a pig to college. Send it to one of the new locations. Like Trader Vic's Providence! (Sorry, that's if they had any brains--no TVs withing a thousand miles of here....)

Damn! What is it with the whole TV enterprise?

Didn't that particular SF TV open just four years ago? Isn't the TV headquarters just across the bay in San Rafael? If there was a flagship TV, it should be the one right down the street from HQ. The SF TV should be the one least likely to close, yet...

Trader Vic's is as dead as 'Aunt Rose'... You can stomp your feet and cry to the cows come home but T.V. is dead ... and so is 'Aunt Rose' !!!!!
And as Rose puffed on her last smoke before she bit the big one ... she muttered out take the Giants and the 3 !!!
RIP ROSE !

It is actually a double shame as this is the second time TV has opened and closed in SF.

imo TV needs to be set on it's own like the Emeryville, not in a box-like warehouse setting connected to other buildings. The interior was beautiful but it had no curb appeal.
To add to this, note the Emeryville location landscaping and the Mai Kai. Those are part of the reason they have survived. Ya' gotta have green man.
P.S. Call me when you need a beautiful tropical landscape with BIG tikis.

[ Edited by: Jungle Trader 2008-01-02 08:57 ]

I'm with the Gnomon on this one. I think the whole Trader Vics corp just doesn't get it.

Has anyone here been to the Don the beachcomber in KONA ? Now the management/ownership there understand what it is to have a great TIKI establishment.

Maybe we should all be contacting them to try and get some DTB here on the mainland.

One of the beach communities here in SoCal would be a great place for a DTB. Hermosa, Huntington, Venice....etc

Damn! What is it with the whole TV enterprise?

Don't forget...Trader Vic's is a franchise. The Trader Vic's company doesn't always have a say on how one of their branches close. That's up to the investors/owners of that particular restaurant. It's a shame they have to be shady about it but they're only looking at their profit margins and not the tiki community. Sometimes the final decision is made the day before they close. I'd be interested to know how much notice the employees got.

Just to reiterate what's already been said...SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL TIKI BAR!!

On 2008-01-01 12:57, MrBaliHai wrote:
This is sad, but I don't think anyone should be too surprised. After all, the Bay Area is kind of TV-saturated compared to the rest of the US, and there's a lot of competition from other tiki bars in the general vicinity. Out of the 3 Vic's in the BA, I thought the SF one was the least impressive, so losing it isn't as painful as losing the Emeryville or Palo Alto locations would be.

I agree, and will add that there are dozens, if not hundreds, of restaurants with better food in San Francisco in the same price range. A restaurant can't survive in the city on it's drinks alone. I ate there many times and was never very impressed with the food. It was usually good, but never great.

However, I almost always got a great drink (except for when they first opened which is understandable). I have missed the days when Martiki, Jim, Sonya, and Lars were behind the bar, but have always got a good cocktail from other bartenders as well, so I will miss it mostly as a friendly and reliable stop for a good drink when in the city.

[ Edited by: thejab 2008-01-02 13:26 ]

How come TV couldn't shut one of the FOUR locations located in the United Arab Emirates? Does a small area like that need FOUR locations?

I guess that is where the extra oil money goes....wait a sec...do they even drink in the U.A.E?

So many questions.

Found an answer

"Can I buy alcohol in the
UAE?
Alcohol is available to non-Muslims. Alcohol is sold in most hotel restaurants and pubs. After receiving a Residence Visa, you can apply for a liquor permit which allows you to purchase alcohol to drink at home in specialist outlets, and to drink alcoholic beverages in licensed hotels and pubs. Liquor permits can only be used in the Emirate in which they are issued."

Found at this website http://www.zu.ac.ae/human_resources/TheOrientation/FAQ/faq.html#WhattoBring4

Permits to drink...sounds like fun.

On 2007-12-31 23:41, Ojaitimo wrote:
Martin. I hope you are kidding. I just came back from Traitor Vic's in Las Vegas and I'm still in shock.

...shoulda started a petition!

I agree with BB and TS's speculations. They knew there might the potential for an outcry, perhaps even an organized protest, and they killed TV'sSF like they did TVsBH -- quietly, in the night, without the fanfare she deserved. Filthy, really, innit?

One thing perhaps worthy of speculation: if even what little grassroots swell those who were the Fighters for TVsBH managed to start could have scared them that much -- imagine what power the majority of the TC Ohana might yeild, if their collective courage and resolve were summoned?

Something to bear in mind, should another irreplacable locus of historic Polynesian Pop face the axe...

"Onipa'a!"

SOK

"Don't let it be forgot,
That once there was a Spot,
Where Blowfish all wore sunglasses,
and Tiki-times were hot..."

[ Edited by: Son-of-Kelbo 2008-01-02 21:10 ]

Has anyone seen any online articles about the closing? I've searched the San Francisco Chronicle website in hopes of more info, but no luck. I just sent off an email to the Chronicle to see if they were working on a story.

On 2008-01-02 11:45, Kenike wrote:

Damn! What is it with the whole TV enterprise?

Don't forget...Trader Vic's is a franchise. The Trader Vic's company doesn't always have a say on how one of their branches close. That's up to the investors/owners of that particular restaurant. It's a shame they have to be shady about it but they're only looking at their profit margins and not the tiki community. Sometimes the final decision is made the day before they close. I'd be interested to know how much notice the employees got.

Just to reiterate what's already been said...SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL TIKI BAR!!

It seems odd that after the investment and the marketing of TV, the owners would close up shop, but if there is no one buying Tiki drinks at the bar and only a few people dinning, the owners had to walk away from the investment - assuming it was even their investment and not a bank, brokerage, etc.'s investment.

On 2008-01-02 11:45, Kenike wrote:

Don't forget...Trader Vic's is a franchise.

Something that has been overlooked is the fact that
even in the franchise world, there are still corporate policys and guidlines to follow, and ultimately TV Corporate agrees on the location. You just can't set up shop anywhere, and I believe it is done through research(not sure how or to what extent).

Also, I don't think TV just allows anyone with the money to open a franchise. I think you have to have some kind of a success portfolio or records of other successful endeavors. It would be like anyone hitting the lotto, and wanting to go open a restaurant, with no food/management/industry knowledge. IF TV allows anyone with the money to invest into a location without any success history or business portfolios, it would be a no brainer as to why they are starting to disappear IMHO.....

Final note would be (lack?) of promotions and or advertising. I wouldn't understand if they were not to be allowed to run nightly specials(1/2 off?) on pupu platters and or drinks in the theme of Happy Hour, to at least draw some sort of business. I don't think I'd ever been to a TV that had a "Happy Hour" at least while I was there....It couldn't hurt the business if it is in limbo to close to maybe add some specials and entice the "local natives" to feast and drink...Unless it is one of those corporate guidlines of course!?

[ Edited by: Tom Slick 2008-01-03 08:34 ]

On 2008-01-03 07:37, christiki295 wrote:

On 2008-01-02 11:45, Kenike wrote:

Damn! What is it with the whole TV enterprise?

Don't forget...Trader Vic's is a franchise. The Trader Vic's company doesn't always have a say on how one of their branches close. That's up to the investors/owners of that particular restaurant. It's a shame they have to be shady about it but they're only looking at their profit margins and not the tiki community. Sometimes the final decision is made the day before they close. I'd be interested to know how much notice the employees got.

Just to reiterate what's already been said...SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL TIKI BAR!!

It seems odd that after the investment and the marketing of TV, the owners would close up shop, but if there is no one buying Tiki drinks at the bar and only a few people dinning, the owners had to walk away from the investment - assuming it was even their investment and not a bank, brokerage, etc.'s investment.

My comment was not only directed at their restaurant business, but their whole enterprise. Their drink mixes seem to have gone downhill and their restaurant operation always seems to be in dire straits. TV restaurant closings are becoming the rule rather than the exception. Further, they have a hell of a time even getting one opened.

Their recent prospects for opening one in DC evaporated. I presume they have abandoned the idea until some interested investor goes to them wanting to open one in DC. They used to have a TV in DC a while back, but as the city grew the TV location ceased to be a good one. They dug up the streets to create a subway system, traffic patterns were changed for security reasons, and many areas of the city completely changed their identities. Corporate TV should have seen that coming and simply moved the location to a better one. Instead, TVs just seem to close.

Even as a franchise, being that the SF TV was so close to TV HQ, the company should have been aware that the restaurant was having trouble and should have seen fit to provide any assistance possible in overcoming those difficulties. They should do that for any site but, especially, at the TV across the bay. If I'm a potential TV investor and I fly out to HQ for meetings, it would be natural to spend some time at the local TV for inspiration, if for no other reason. Now all they can say is that their local TV closed. That's sure gonna keep me interested in investing in TV. :roll:

Maybe the restaurant operation should go full cirle, but rather than call it Hinky Dinks they should call it Rinky Dinks.

TV SF was not a franchise location. It was partly owned by the Corporation, and had a large number of investors to help foot the bill.

TV SF required an enormous investment in the remodel, for both seismic upgrades and ADA requirements. It was a HUGE space, with a very expensive 50 year lease. It virtually mandated that the restaurant be an enormous success to just break even.

TV pinned a lot of hopes that their old fans would be back in droves, and they were to some extent. But many were put off by the atmosphere, and the more egalitarian approach. Yes, many have complained here about snotty service, but it was much friendlier and more welcoming that the original clubby SF locale, with the exclusive Captain's Cabin and even male-only dining areas back in the day. Other problems that were overlooked:

-Many of the old fans are- how shall I put it- dead.

-Many of the old fans retired to upscale communities on the peninsula. TV Palo Alto was expected to attract them and it does.

-Most importantly, changing tastes in SF dining. The gap between the two SF Vic's (1994-2004) saw the rise of amazing fine dining in SF. Vic's changed nothing, and they paid the price.

-Tough location: difficult to see from the street, but hopes to attract Opera/Symphony crowd (right age/demographic) were undermined but better dining options in the same area (Jardiniere, Absinthe, etc.)

-Poor Marketing: So much you can do with that brand that never was done. When US Airways in-flight magazine does an article about the Mai Tai, why do they call me and not Trader Vic's?

Lot's more to say, but it's just a sad loss, and a wasted opportunity. Good people, lots of talent- just a lack of vision. Heads have rolled at HQ, and there is aggressive new management in place. The brand will survive- probably not an a form we would all like- but survive nonetheless.

*martiki wrote:

-Many of the old fans are- how shall I put it- dead.*

I'm not dead, I feel fine!

*Lot's more to say, but it's just a sad loss, and a wasted opportunity. *

Truly. I was not surprised by the news, perhaps by the timing. The die was cast early for me and while it is sad Frisco has no Vic's I cannot say the loss is so great. We had some good times there, just not enough. My last visit during last year's Crawl was the most special as I enjoyed an entertaining and informative tour of the place by my favorite old Vic's bartender (after Lars, and sunshine Sonya...oh and Jim too, but other than them, my fave!).

It's a melancholy feeling, more regret over what should have been than sorrow over the actual closing. To the future and make mine a China Clipper, or a Nui Ni....oh, a Jet Pilot!

Support my local tiki bar, even if it's far...far away.
midnite

On 2008-01-03 10:46, martiki wrote:
Lot's more to say, but it's just a sad loss, and a wasted opportunity. Good people, lots of talent- just a lack of vision. Heads have rolled at HQ, and there is aggressive new management in place. The brand will survive- probably not an a form we would all like- but survive nonetheless.

Thanks for the insight. Lack of vision is pretty obvious. Nice to know that there is new management. I don't mind it surviving in a form that is not the same as in earlier days, but it is rather depressing to think that it will probably not be in a form that we'll like.

TV SF was not a franchise location. It was partly owned by the Corporation, and had a large number of investors to help foot the bill.

My mistake..I just assumed it was.

But many were put off by the atmosphere, and the more egalitarian approach.

Lars echoed similar sentiments in conversations I've had with him about SF TV. He mentioned that "typical" customers were fairly pretentious snobs that had little or no appreciation for Trader Vic's. I personally never got to visit so all I know is what I hear and read. Still, sad to see another TV shut it's doors...especially after being open only a short time.

By the way, if anyone caught the show (Not so) Great Cocktails on Fine Living Last week, there is some great footage of Lars slinging a Mai Tai at Vic's SF- with a word or two from Lars and Yavuz.

Do we know what Lars is up to now? Does he have to go back to Germany?

On 2008-01-03 10:46, martiki wrote:
TV SF was not a franchise location. It was partly owned by the Corporation, and had a large number of investors to help foot the bill.

TV SF required an enormous investment in the remodel, for both seismic upgrades and ADA requirements. It was a HUGE space, with a very expensive 50 year lease. It virtually mandated that the restaurant be an enormous success to just break even.

. . . Tough location: difficult to see from the street, but hopes to attract Opera/Symphony crowd (right age/demographic) were undermined but better dining options in the same area (Jardiniere, Absinthe, etc.). . .

Way to break it down, Martiki.
With all of those problems, the fate of SF TV seemed doomed before the doors even opened.

It seems a poor marketing strategy to go after the opera/symphony crew for many reasons, possibly the most obvious is that such performances normally begin and go through the traditional dinner hour.

He's in Dallas TV.

On 2008-01-03 18:24, cynfulcynner wrote:
Do we know what Lars is up to now? Does he have to go back to Germany?

He's in Dallas TV.

On 2008-01-03 18:24, cynfulcynner wrote:
Do we know what Lars is up to now? Does he have to go back to Germany?

Outsider's (of Tiki) Opinions

Yep, that was pretty much the opinion of the non-Tiki folk in SF. Thanks for posting that Unga. It just about says it all. SF restaurants are VERY competitive in terms of food quality and service expectations...some would venture to say only second to New York. TV, while we all love it, wasn't the top pick in the food arena for most locals.

On 2008-01-03 22:32, Unga Bunga wrote:
Outsider's (of Tiki) Opinions

On 2007-02-17 21:40, SoccerTiki wrote:
Trader Vic's S.F. pics:


One of Vic's own paintings:

WooHoo and I with one of the few tikis in SF TV's

I'm glad WooHooWahine and I made it there. http://www.tikicentral.com/viewtopic.php?mode=viewtopic&topic=22871&forum=16&start=0&hilite=soccertikiWe decided then that once was enough though! Food,Service Atmosphere was blah... Now the Emeryville Trader Vic's....We're there!!!

I wanted to hit TV SF again this year. It was one of our stops during our March 2007 Road Trip.
Lars made some special drinks it was great. Damn shame. :(

Nice photos, soccertiki.
Very woohoo.

On 2008-01-04 22:12, christiki295 wrote:
Nice photos, soccertiki.
Very woohoo.

You know it! WoooHooooOOOOOooooooooo!

Whatever one thinks about Trader Vic's SF, the booze wall behind the bar was spectacular:

[ Edited by: GatorRob 2008-01-05 16:55 ]