Trader Vic's Bellevue WA Closes Doors!

Found in the Seattle Times

August 25, 2008 11:59 AM

A final "aloha": Trader Vic's closes in Bellevue

Posted by Nancy Leson

Trader Vic's has seen its day -- again. The Lincoln Square restaurant closed after service Saturday -- two and a half years after its much-anticipated opening. "I'd heard rumors they were going to be closing," said a concierge at the adjacent Bellevue Westin late last night. Yet employees working at the hotel, just a mai tai splash from Trader Vic's front door, were surprised to find the restaurant's windows papered over on Sunday.

"It closed because it just didn't make it," said restaurant-consultant Larry Hamlin, one of about 25 local investors in the franchise -- who'd hoped the Lincoln Square restaurant would bring back the paradise lost after Trader Vic's at the Seattle Westin closed in 1991.

The Bellevue location proved less than golden, according to Hamlin. "All of the investors lost their money." Managing-partner Paul Reder, owner of the Tap House Grill, "put in over a million and a half dollars and was the one feeding it during this period of losing money," said Hamlin, citing a letter sent to investors late last week. "It was not successful, they were losing money every month and they determined it was best just to close."

When word went out in 2006 that the iconic restaurant chain would open in Bellevue, Trader Vic's-ionados --including Seattle's celebrity auctioneer Sharon Friel (whose signature adornment is a gardenia -- commemorating a love affair with Trader Vic's that goes back to her sorority days) and Bellevue attorney Theresa Dowell (whose Leschi home is a tiki-lover's treasure chest of Trader Vic's memorabilia) were thrilled to hear that "TV's" was coming back to the Seattle area. "I'm ecstatic! It's a dream come true," Dowell said at the time. She'd traveled as far as London, Taipei and Bangkok to eat crab rangoon and drink the Trader's signature cocktails.

But as competition for diner's dollars reached a crescendo in Bellevue and elsewhere, stratospheric prices --among other disappointments -- have kept some hard-core fans from returning to the Lincoln Square restaurant.

Tom Robinson has eaten at Trader Vic's' the world-over for nearly 50 years, and attended the gala preview-dinner in Bellevue with his wife, Barb. But they've made very few treks from their home in Edmonds since then. "It's not a destination anymore and I don't think the franchises are going to do very well. They've cheapened it," said Robinson, whose house, like Dowell's, is decorated with Trader Vic's memorabilia. "I thought it wouldn't last, but I didn't think it would close this fast," Robinson said after hearing the news of the closure. "We were there just a few weeks ago for the first time in a year and a half." Lunch service, he said, was abominable -- despite a near-empty dining room.

Robinson has been less enchanted with the place for many reasons, including a downslide in both food and service. As for drinks? His favorites are now made with "Trader Vic's"-brand rum rather than the orignal Meyer's. These are problems that extend well beyond Bellevue, he said. While dining at the London Trader Vic's, Robinson heard that the owner was in the house and complained about the "cheapening" of the cocktails to the manager -- asking him to pass the word on to his higher-up. "I told him they should maintain the Trader Vic's tradition and said, if it goes on like this, the chain won't survive." Back in the day, Robinson says, they'd have apologized and comped his drink. Instead, "Every time the owner walked through the bar, he'd look my way, and if looks could kill I'd be dead now."

Charity auctioneer Sharon Friel was also surprised to hear about the closure. "This is stunning," she said this morning. Especially since she'd just called Trader Vic's on Friday, hoping to have them set aside some bottles of mai tai-mix to serve at a Hawaiian themed party she held at her home yesterday. "They told me they were out," she said. Ditto for the little salt-and-pepper menehune she'd hope to buy as party favors. "But no one said anything about closing."

Friel admits that she and her husband Dick haven't been to Trader Vic's in 18 months, and senses that the closure is "a sign of the times." Not just the financial downturn, she says, but a generational change. "It was my generation that has all these memories," says the former sorority-sister who recalls Trader Vic's original Seattle location as the height of luxury back in the early '60s. "But even I didn't support it."

For patrons who did, the closure has hit hard. "Our group has met in the lounge every Sunday for Happy Hour since the doors opened just over two years ago," wrote Michael Merry in an email sent to the Seattle Times -- after he'd heard rumors of the closure. "We call it our `church.' Sometimes it's two of us, sometimes it's close to 20. We think it is a great way to end one week and prepare for another." Merry will miss "the best smoked ribs and mai tais I have ever tasted" -- and especially, the Trader Vic's staff. "They're like our family, and it will be hard to see them leave."

Kenike sent me an email a few days ago, with the rumor..and im so sad that it turned out to be true.

i am so disapointed. i loved that place.

i'm glad we had so many get-togethers there.. our last time was fittingly, on International Tiki Day.

sigh.

sad.

Sigh

Sorry news for the Northwest brethren, my condolences. The article makes some decent points re: current state of Vic's operations. There is a real lacking in some areas and it is not going unnoticed by patrons or employees. Perhaps there is good news on that front on the horizon, perhaps. Fingers crossed.

The bright side for me is with these places closing it ups my "percentage of worldwide Trader Vic's visited" without spending a dime on travel.

Shanghai, Beijing, Bellevue...aught eight's been a tough one. So far.

I like Trader Vic's,
midnite

Very sad. We always looked forward to meeting up at this place too! The trip for a real Trader Vic's Mai Tai is now 800 miles. =(

WWWWWWWAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!! always an enjoyable trek over to Trader Vics. Even though I always thought that it would have done better if it WERE NOT in Belevue. had it been located downtown I would have gone more often.

https://tikicentral.com/uploads/3734/44e0b79e.jpg

[ Edited by: sophista-tiki 2008-08-27 08:48 ]

Terrible news. I blame dogbytes for not going often enough.

I'm speechlessly sad. :(

I'm can't believe this! We were planning on heading over there this weekend while up there for the weekend. We had a great time last time we went! Anyone hear what they will be doing with all the decor?

Sounds like time for another warehouse sale!

Dogbytes,all,
yes this is sad news.
thank you so much for taking me there last summer the day after the Ghastly Ones, and Satan's Pilgrims show.
I thought that the place was really nice.
bummer.
Jeff(bigtikidude)

On 2008-08-26 08:55, dogbytes wrote:
Kenike sent me an email a few days ago, with the rumor..and im so sad that it turned out to be true.

i am so disapointed. i loved that place.

i'm glad we had so many get-togethers there.. our last time was fittingly, on International Tiki Day.

sigh.

sad.

Damn, I just realized that I have a $50 gift card to that place....I guess I will be sending an email to the corporate website to see what the options are. I think they could fly me to one of the other open, yet destine to close Vic's locations, just to use the card!

I have the same card!
I hope that other TV's will take it, as I'm going to Vegas in October, so I hopefully could use it there! Lemme know what you find out!

PEa

[ Edited by: sweetpea 2008-08-26 15:31 ]

Damn it....Damn it!! Trader Vic's Bellevue closed. I cant believe it!!
Well, I guess I can due to the fact that it wasn't very busy a lot of the times we went but it still totally sucks!! The evening dinner time did seem to be quite busy but I guess not busy enough.

This Trader Vic's was awesome!! The majority of the people that worked there were really nice and professional, the food was excellent and the drinks were most of the time pretty good. The waiter from Boston was our favorite!! Depending on the bartender, sometimes they were perfect!! Funny how some people say the food or service was a problem. We never had a problem any of the times we went!

We did, however, notice less people going and also the less and less of the little Accoutrements that you received with your orders or the lack of 'stuff' for sale in the gift cabinet. No Menehune sticks the last month when we were here. Just bamboo stakes through the fruit. There were also no Coconut Mugs, Fogcutters and a few of the others. I did however have a Gun Club Punch in the Shell glass.
Now that's one thing I can't understand. The stuff that is for sale was always running out and the mark up on that stuff has gotta be good. It's just gravy on top of your restaurant sales and they just didn't keep items in stock.

It's interesting to me how in that first post from the paper, it talks to these people who are pretty big into Trader Vic's but then haven't been there in 16-18 months! It was only open 25 or so! Good on that guy and his party for going to "church" there! That's some support!! I wish we could have gone that much!

Oh, and I'm not starting anything with those "celebrities" they talked to by the way. Just an observation.

Every time we came down from Canada we would try to make sure we stopped in. There was such a cool atmosphere in the lounge. Great seats, lot's to look at and talk about and it also felt that it had a lot of history in it. In the dining part of the restaurant, there were lots of photos of the Trader back in the day and there were some great Tikis scattered throughout.

It is sad to see it's now gone. There will probably be quite a bit of talk on here about this so I guess I will sit back for now.

I didn't realize there wasn't really a post in the locations thread like Dogbytes said back in Jan. so I'll have to get some pictures in that thread!!!

Oh, and just throwing this out there, but what does this mean about the 'possible' Trader Vic's that was supposed to open in Portland?? Might be hard getting backers now that this one shut down.

LONG LIVE TRADER VIC'S!!!!

TabooDan

[ Edited by: TabooDan 2008-08-26 16:03 ]

all of us lowly TCers were there more than those people they quoted.
I'm PO'd at myself. was gonna go sunday for happy hour, but work was just too tiring, and I was too icky to be seen in public, and the rain , fergit it, so I missed my last chance. arrrrrgh.

I guess they're moving right along too.... it's some of the comments on this article that make me bitter!

http://blog.seattletimes.nwsource.com/allyoucaneat/2008/08/25/and_now_from_the_waste_no_time_department_pearl_set_to_open_in_trader_vics_space.html

[ Edited by: Pepe le Tiki 2008-08-26 16:49 ]

Doesn't marxist commun-socialism state that capitalism can only lead to cheapening and eventual social failure? Something like that... crumby news none the less.

Sad to see another TV to bite the tiki but when the kids don't go ......what else can you do?

Boomer BUST

People in this area were dreaming of a new Trader Vic's
in Washington D.C. (Bethesda/Chevy Chase). IMO FORGET IT!

Based upon the Bellevue, Washington State experience which
is also a high income area as Washington. This does NOT bode
well for the overall chains future. Hope Atlanta lasts!

Thortiki

Well that is the bunk! We got up there once when I was coming down with a virus. Now I really feel sick.
And I was just getting into the mai tai mood having seen the current Sunset Magazine featuring a recipe from The Royal Hawaiian. Now I really need a drink.

On 2008-08-26 16:44, Pepe le Tiki wrote:
I guess they're moving right along too.... it's some of the comments on this article that make me bitter!

http://blog.seattletimes.nwsource.com/allyoucaneat/2008/08/25/and_now_from_the_waste_no_time_department_pearl_set_to_open_in_trader_vics_space.html

[ Edited by: Pepe le Tiki 2008-08-26 16:49 ]

"Trader Vics was just mediocre (and apparently trying to live off the name it built with a now-elderly generation)" !?

Wadda bastid!

Condolences on the loss...

Though my brother lives in the Seattle area, I only made it to the Bellevue TV once (it was a good 1-hour drive to get there). I thought the location (being in Bellevue) wasn't the best...but I'd be interested in what Seattle-ites think about that.

Not from Seattle but not too far away and I think the location wasn't the best. Location, Location, Location! It was tucked away under this covered road/driveway that ran between The Westin Hotel and the restaurant itself. There is absolutely no walk by traffic in front of the restaurant and really no signs (Big enough to see) from any of the main roadways. People have to know it is there to bring them in. In this day and age word of mouth is just not enough. There is just too much competition.

I think it has been proven that you can't always just open up at a Hotel in a nice area and use your name to survive. It is sad but the name Trader Vic's just does not bring in the masses anymore. They really need to regroup and focus on what they do well and are known for and really strive to achieve this. I am sure there are also a bunch of other reasons that probably none of us know why they closed their doors and so quickly.

Not even a closing announcement. They really must have been loosing money every day!! What would be the point in announcing that we'll be closed next week when your loosing cash every single day! It is too bad!

TabooDan

[As I was writing this while TabooDan posted the above. I don't feel like editing.]

The location had to be a major factor in the Bellevue Trader Vic's failure.

In taste and lifestyle Bellevue is far more conservative than Seattle. There are very few (if any) of the funky, cool, independent stores, bars, restaurant, and coffee shops you find in Seattle and Portland.

The majority of Bellevue businesses could be found in any American upscale shopping area. Downtown Bellevue looks and feels like a large open air mall.

Besides being in the wrong city Trader Vic's wasn't in a very noticeable location. It was tucked beneath a large building, about a 1/4 block in from Bellevue Way NE. The street signage was hardly noticeable, and Bellevue Way NE is one of the main access roads to Bellevue Square, the giant high end mall that is the anchor (physically, socially, and spiritually) of downtown Bellevue. Most people driving along it are looking for parking access or how to get back to the freeway.

Though Bellevue does get quite a bit of business traffic (Bellevue is the main hotel location near Microsoft which always has some sort of large scale conference going on) the business people seem to travel in packs and be drawn to the familiar or trendy places. Even if they were on Bellevue Way NE it'd have been easy to miss Vic's (especially with the glitter and excitement of the Cheesecake Factory just across the street).

As far as getting to Bellevue from anywhere else: 50% of the time it's a pain in the ass (in fact just now as I wrote that line the radio traffic report said "...As far as the commute some of the worst traffic is getting into Bellevue...") and the other 50% it's either annoying, difficult, or irritating.

It would seem that Trader Vic's might have done better if it were actually in Seattle in a noticeable location. But despite it's Polynesian decor and fun drinks Trader Vic's Bellevue was a more upscale bar & restaurant and when it comes to real money the majority of the Ordinarys like their fancy restaurants and bars to be trendy, contemporary, and just like the one they were in last night and will be at tomorrow night.

agreed with most of woof's comments. our travel time (door to door) seattle to Trader Vics was 18 minutes.

anyways. im sad. and the coup de grace:

And now, from the "waste no time" department: (note the time that TV was announce: August 25, 2008 11:59 AM)
then in the food gossip column:
August 25th @ 1:29PM

Pearl set to open in Trader Vic's space

Posted by Nancy Leson

Wondering what's to become of the 7800-square-foot Trader Vic's restaurant and bar? I was, for about two minutes. Then I read between the lines of a press-release sent today, crowing: "Pearl Brings Lustre To Bellevue's Dining Scene: Dynamic new restaurant at Lincoln Square set to open late fall." Oddly enough, there was no word in the release about Trader Vic's -- whose closure I'd chronicled early today. But Pearl's address -- 700 Bellevue Way NE., Suite 50 -- sure looked familiar.

Turns out chef Bradley Dickinson and his business partner Mikel Rogers are moving in. Dickinson (former chef-exec for Schwartz Brothers restaurants Daniel's Broiler, Spazzo and Chandler's Crabhouse, where he's worked for 25 years) and Rogers (regional manager for Schwartz Brothers -- whose management expertise was honed at Robert Rosellini's The Other Place, and at Il Terrazzo Carmine) are psyched about the opportunity. "I've been working on the project for almost a year, but this location came up a couple of months ago," says Dickinson. And they jumped on it.

"It's a beautiful space, but it's a Trader Vic's space -- and we don't want anything that says `Trader Vic's,'" he says. To that end, "We've got a great design team working on it and it's going to be amazing," They won't need to do anything structurally, says the chef, who's impressed by the already-functional kitchen where he'll be preparing his contemporary American menu. But with the 200-plus-seat dining room and bar, their goal is to create "a real urban feel in the middle of downtown Bellevue." And that, says Dickinson, is going to be a challenge here on a "restaurant row" that's home to P.F. Chang's and the Cheesecake Factory. Rather than being part of that, er, chain of events, the independent restaurateurs are hoping to create a dining scene more reminiscent "of Belltown and Queen Anne" than we're used to seeing in Bellevue. If all goes smoothly, Pearl should be open by mid-November.

On 2008-08-28 01:39, dogbytes wrote:
"It's a beautiful space, but it's a Trader Vic's space -- and we don't want anything that says `Trader Vic's,'" he says.

Ouch. If that's not a declaration of the sorry state of a once great franchise, I don't know what is. He might as well have said "Eeeewwww... who would want to be associated with Trader Vic's?!"

Yeah, that's just what we need. Another overprice, bland boring steak house. Yay!

Bradley Dickinson and his business partner Mikel Rogers are moving in. Dickinson (former chef-exec for Schwartz Brothers restaurants Daniel's Broiler, Spazzo and Chandler's Crabhouse, where he's worked for 25 years) and Rogers (regional manager for Schwartz Brothers -- whose management expertise was honed at Robert Rosellini's The Other Place, and at Il Terrazzo Carmine)

Why is it that Yuppies love steak and crab so much?

In a side note. Ever notice that the richer someone's wallet is the more disgusting the food they eat?
I.E. Foie gras (fatten goose/duck liver), escargot (yum snails), Kopi Luwak Coffee (civet cat crap coffee) ,birds nest soup, and Casu Frazigu (maggot cheese. Oh wait, I guess these are called "Decadent" foods.

Bradley Dickinson said they want the restaurant to have "a real urban feel in the middle of downtown Bellevue."

Urban? They'll be located in what is essentially a mall across the street from another mall in downtown Bellevue which is pert near nothin' but concrete, steel, glass, and Nordstrom shopping bags.

I hate to say it but if there is nobody patronizing an establishment this sad ending is inevitable. There has to be community involvement, such as in formerly owned Sams Seafood in Huntington Beach, Ca now called Kona and the new owner gets the fact that if you are receptive to the people that are coming on a regular basis and listen and respond to their wants then they will flourish. The last event at Kona (Tikiyaki Orchestra and blessing of the Hidden Village) was standing room only and that was all due to the open arms and aloha of the owner and their acknowledgement of the people that appreciate their business and hospitality.

When we visited our friend Sandi, who lives in Bellevue, it was indeed a pain getting over there. But TV was busy. Sandi was surprised by the closure and said the place was busy every time she went there. Apparently not busy enough.

[ Edited by: DJ Terence Gunn 2009-08-16 11:04 ]

Awww, Thatch. I love that place! Every city needs a Thatch. I really wish there was more NW tiki available to us small amount of tiki lovers here.

On 2008-08-28 13:54, DJ Terence Gunn wrote:
But increased patronage from Elecia and her Jet City Mucky Mucks wouldn't have saved Bellevue's Trader Vics.

Wow, talk about a not-so-in-betqween-the-lines post. What's up with the sour grapes, Mr. Gunn?

Is a Jet City Mucky Muck anything like a SoCal Hoity Toity? Looks like we have a new nickname for the Pacific Northwest contingency!

By the way, I am deeply saddened that I was not able to visit this Trader Vic's establishment while it was still open.

[ Edited by: DJ Terence Gunn 2009-08-16 11:08 ]

just so everyone knows Jet City Mucky Mucks is our tongue in cheek name we gave ourselves while planning our Jet City Junket home bar tour. the Jet City Junket is not to be confused with Terence's home bar bus tour. 2 different events.
Dawn ( sophista-tiki).

Whose tongue in whose cheek?

And lest the rumor gets wildly outta hand again the Jet City Mucky Mucks do not operate a members only "...hidden, off the beaten track, hole in the wall private-club Tiki Tavern..." that is often hinted at.

"...dogbytes, woofmutt, sweetpea, Dawn Fraiser...and tikiriviera...give the impression -- often through exaggerated praise and enthusiam -- that there is much more of a scene here, that there is much more going on here than there really is."

None of us have ever been really worried about a "scene".

We're all about quality over quantity. Though it may seem I'm just fulla hot air and horse shit sayin' this I'd guess that pert near every danged visitor whose met up with the Jet City Mucky Mucks has found us to be a decent lil group of peoples.

As far as missin' Trader Vic's? I'm won't. I miss Andy's Diner. Every damned week.

...I'd guess that pert near every danged visitor whose met up with the Jet City Mucky Mucks has found us to be a decent lil group of peoples.

Hear, hear.

Can I be an honourary (Canadian spelling) Jet City Mucky Muck? I promise not to divulge the secret word or handshake to outsiders - unless tortured (or asked).

I won't miss what the Bellevue TV became, but sad about what it could have been, and should have been.

On 2008-08-28 13:54, DJ Terence Gunn wrote:
I agree whole-heartedly about the patronising issue. That's one of the multiple things I don't care for about Seattle and its people: lack of significant patronage for anything that isn't the lowest common denominator, the status quo; for something that is unique and different, for something that has integrity and goes against the grain.

I tend not to agree. I think you folks up in the Pacific Northwest have a HUGE variety of locally owned and operated eateries. In fact I often remark about how I wish where I lived had such a great variety. It's hard to go against the grain when the grain goes in EVERY direction.

Despite what many TC'ers who don't live in Seattle may think, there aren't many hardcore tikiphiles (at least, not the kind of ones most of us who take it seriously, but in a fun way, find agreeable) in this area. TC'ers like dogbytes, woofmutt, sweetpea, Dawn Fraiser (forgot your user handle, Dawn!), and tikiriviera are frequent -- perhaps daily, several times daily even? -- posters here, and can give the impression -- often through exaggerated praise and enthusiam -- that there is much more of a scene here, that there is much more going on here than there really is.

I know for a FACT this isn't true. I get more invites for Seattle events than I can even count, and I haven't ever lived within 2,000 miles of the place. Obviously there isn't much of a 'scene' if you don't get invited to it...no, the people you referenced couldn't have 'saved' Trader Vic's, but go check out the tiki 'scene' in most places and you'll find that you're living in a veritable pantheon of tiki activity.

And the current economy and people's wallets must be considered in the equation, as well. Myself, I rarely go out; not because I'm cheap and don't wish to give my patronage to places I would like to, but rather because I'm generous, indulgent, and like to have a great time, but simply cannot afford the cost. And when I could afford it, in retrospect I'm shocked at how much money I used to spend on an evening out! (This is why I put together and support more non-public events: more artistic freedom, more control, and a helluva lot less expensive.)

Trader Vic's targets a specific demographic. One with lots of disposable income. An establishment that prices itself for this demographic doesn't usually have a live DJ, loud ambiance, a ton of college kids hanging out, or people passing out drunk in the bar. I've been to the Trader Vic's in question and never saw any of that. That's why I went back a second time.

But there's more to it than lack of patronage, a dodgy economy, and an ill-chosen location. The OWNERS simply ran it as a mid-scale restaurant with a bar and nothing else. Other than the theme they tried to inspire, the atmosphere they failed to create, they simply didn't do anything special with the place. Trader Vic's, Bellevue didn't offer entertainment (DJed, live, or otherwise), or play host to local tiki/Polynesian art shows, etc. Nor did they patronise any events outside their establishment that would've perhaps furthered and promoted their business. (I already said they snubbed Otto and I for trying to put together an event in the beginning -- one that would've opened their minds to possibilities down the road.)

I guess I have a case of chronic disagreement. The location wasn't the best. I thought they pulled off the theme beautifully, it was a great space to be in, the drinks were especially well made, and the ambiance would have been completely trashed by live music, a loud DJ, etc. Like I said before, I don't think that Trader Vic's was marketing itself to the 'low brow' crowd. I think they were going after a market that:
a) could drop 3 digits, not including decimals, on a meal without thinking twice
b) would not get loud, rowdy, out-of-hand, drop roofies in drinks, fall down drunk, puke in the bar, etc.

I don't think they were catering to the general membership of Tiki Central or "the lounge scene." I think they were trying to run a high-end business for more upscale clientele. (Now please, do not think I'm saying that most TC members can't afford a meal at Trader Vic's, get rowdy and fall down drunk in bars, etc. I don't know most of the people here well enough for that. I'm just saying that no establishment could survive marketing specifically to a niche market THIS small.)

Clearly I'm a minority here, but I won't miss something I never really had anyway. I've always been of the philosophy that if you don't like the world you live in, then create your own. Nobody else is going to do it for you.

Southwest Airlines says "The only way to like where you sit, is to sit where you like."

In closing (no pun intended), what I'd really like to see in Seattle is a hidden, off the beaten track, hole in the wall private-club Tiki Tavern -- something along the lines of Portland's Thatch, but a little larger for some occasional entertainment; a secret, in-the-know place, for the urban Bohemian. Private clubs are often the only way to go for sub-culture survival.

Once again, it'd be unrealistic to base a business plan on a niche market this small. You already said that Seattle doesn't have much of a tiki scene. While I disagree, I don't think you could keep an entire business running on Seattle's thriving, vibrant, huge, pulsating, turgid tiki scene.

oops. stinkin connection made me post twice.

[ Edited by: tekoteko 2008-08-28 19:22 ]

[ Edited by: DJ Terence Gunn 2009-08-16 11:09 ]

[ Edited by: DJ Terence Gunn 2009-08-16 11:07 ]

"...woofmutt (Oscar Wilde rebourne! with a pompadour)..."

OK that settles it! My purple velvet smoking jacket and various silk cravats are going to the Goodwill today. I'll keep the lavender sachets. I live in a basement. It gets musty. And the absinthe because, well, it's absinthe. It's heavenly with a Pabst chaser.

HA! hahahahahahahahahahahah

On 2008-08-29 02:04, DJ Terence Gunn wrote:

On 2008-08-28 19:20, tekoteko wrote:

Despite what many TC'ers who don't live in Seattle may think, there aren't many hardcore tikiphiles (at least, not the kind of ones most of us who take it seriously, but in a fun way, find agreeable) in this area. TC'ers like dogbytes, woofmutt, sweetpea, Dawn Fraiser (forgot your user handle, Dawn!), and tikiriviera are frequent -- perhaps daily, several times daily even? -- posters here, and can give the impression -- often through exaggerated praise and enthusiam -- that there is much more of a scene here, that there is much more going on here than there really is.

From your first post, there aren't many hardcore tikiphiles in Seattle.

Once again, it'd be unrealistic to base a business plan on a niche market this small. You already said that Seattle doesn't have much of a tiki scene. While I disagree, I don't think you could keep an entire business running on Seattle's thriving, vibrant, huge, pulsating, turgid tiki scene.

From my first post, I disagree, I think the tiki crowd in Seattle is vibrant, interesting, and quite a bit more active than in many other locations.

Oh, I beg your pardon, your majesty!

This is the first time anybody has ever called me 'your majesty." I kinda like it though, thanks!

It's no wonder so many new people dislike TC and so many of it's self-appointed 'tiki' snobs. Seattle's thriving, vibrant, huge, pulsating, turgid tiki scene? I suppose you'd know better than I, being from Texas and having received lots of invites to Seattle events.

All I said is I get invites to LOTS of Seattle tiki events. I used the words "huge,""pulsating," and "turgid" because they make me giggle. I didn't mean to imply that Seattles tiki scene is actually huge, pulsates, or is turgid.

As there are in all cities, there are different social cliques in Seattle that are interested in similar things, and dogbytes' clique I've never cliqued with -- save for the few folks who are cross cliquers (which is actually legal in this state). I've had (and have) my issues and differences with dogbytes (the hostess with the mostess, who really -- like myself -- gets off on seeing others have a good time), woofmutt (Oscar Wilde rebourne! with a pompadour), tikiriviera (dryly humourous, down-to-earth, and from, I believe, like monkeyskull, Idaho ((aren't they all that way there? -- it would seem so from all the Idaho-Ians I've met)), and the rest of the Jet City Mucky Mucks. But I'll say with all sincerity that they're good, friendly, caring, honest people, and wonderfully witty and irreverent (which I adore) -- despite our differences and views -- and I doubt -- despite our differences -- that they would agree with your ridiculous assessment of Seattle's 'thriving, vibrant, huge, pulsating, turgid, 'Tiki scene'. And as you are speaking to one of the primary organisers and supporters of such events, current and in the past (and many others that don't fall directly into the 'Tiki' category, but are still within the realm of said interest) in Seattle, and don't even know my contributions or past, you are blissfully and rudely ignorant to pass judgement.

I don't think I passed judgement. I'm not in the judicial field by any means. I also don't pretend to speak for them, as I am not a ventriloquist and the coordination would be too difficult.

Of course Trader Vic's doesn't cater to the 'tiki crowd'. Duh. There isn't any restaurant or bar anywhere that could solely devote its business on the 'tiki crowd' -- not even in the pampered regions of California. My point is that the Trader Vic's here could've had special events from time to time that did cater to the 'tiki crowd', to increase more interest and possibilities. And who mentioned anything about puking drunks and loud DJs? You're reading into my comments something that isn't there.

Hooray! We agree about something! But you missed my point. I don't think that Trader Vic's would WANT to have a 'special event' that would interrupt it's daily business, unless you could come up with the dough to book the whole place and cover the sales that they 'might possibly generate' on any given night.

And as far as Seattle not having a 'niche tiki' following, what the hell do you know? Are you a part of it? There's far more to Seattle's interest in Tiki and similar genres than dogbytes' clique of friends and the posts you read on tikicentral. Most of the folks I know who were involved in Tiki at one point or another, could care less about this website or being part of any kind of scene for it. Said people are still round, still interested, but don't devote all their time and interest to it, like it was a lifestyle and a culture.

Go back to the quote from your first post. You told me there wasn't a big tiki crowd in Seattle. In fact, I never said that Seattle didn't have one, I said that no business could survive by catering solely TO the tiki crowd. It's too much of a niche interest to base a business plan on.

Despite that, Seattle does not have a thriving tiki scene, or bars, or restaurants, or bands, people, or otherwise. There are some dedicated folks (and more not so), yes. But we're 'hurting' just like a lot places. The only difference is, WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE. We get out there (or on here -- TC), and we make it without the sole dependency of public places (particularly I and a couple of my close friends, with our private functions -- tiki-related or otherwise that aren't put on and announced to the general public). How many of THOSE have YOU been invited to or attended, being that you get invited to so many Seattle events?

So you said Seattle DOES have a thriving tiki 'scene' a minute ago, and now you're saying it doesn't. Which one is it? I'd venture to say that you're blessed to have a lot of people with common interest and who are most of all FUN around up there, and they tend to get together a lot and have a good time. I never said anything different than that. You seem to agree on this point sometimes.

If you want to play hardball with me (and I don't play softball), do your research on Seattle's past and current Lounge/Tiki scene first...... I had a very long, successful run as Seattle's premiere Lounge music DJ and general Lounge 'scene' impresario in many Seattle venues. And more often on the weekend, rather than on some off night, like most of the Lounge and Tiki events I've since gone to in public take place. And though there was a scene of loyal followers and hardcore 'Lounge Lizards' (if you will), without the other hundreds of non-scenester, non-clique folks, who paid admission and paid for drinks and showed up to patronise my events, it never would've happened.

I definitely don't want to play any kind of balls, hard or soft, with you. As for researching a Lounge/Tiki scene...honestly who has the time for that kind of thing? Lounge/Tiki isn't 'what i live for' and certainly isn't worth going to the library and looking up ads for events that happened in the late 80's and 90's on microfiche.

Stop relying on others to provide the fantasy and escapism you seek. Be pro-active. Create your own.

This made me giggle too.

Now, back to inactivity. As I've found, being the guy with the best qualifications on the internet is like being the smartest kid on the short bus.

As I've found, being the guy with the best qualifications on the internet is like being the smartest kid on the short bus.

Thanx, that helps!

On 2008-08-28 18:41, Sweet Daddy Tiki wrote:

...I'd guess that pert near every danged visitor whose met up with the Jet City Mucky Mucks has found us to be a decent lil group of peoples.

Hear, hear.

Can I be an honourary (Canadian spelling) Jet City Mucky Muck? I promise not to divulge the secret word or handshake to outsiders - unless tortured (or asked).

I think Canadians are known as Hucky Pucks.

[ Edited by: DJ Terence Gunn 2009-08-16 11:08 ]

"This is the first time anybody has ever called me 'your majesty." I kinda like it though, thanks!" -tekoteko-

Hey! I've refered to yuh many many times as, and I quote, "a royal pain in the ass". So I definitely deserve credit fer yer high and mighty blue blood status. (Yeah sure, Mrs Bytes has called yuh "Our little Texas princess" fer a while now, but yuh've been a royal pain in the ass fer much longer.)

OH, and PS:

Just read this:

"...the life of a 20 or 30 year old frequent nightclub goer, staying out late and spending loads of cash on booze."

Dang! That's exactly why Mrs. Bytes calls him "Our little Texas princess"

[ Edited by: woofmutt 2008-08-29 20:26 ]