Polynesian Village (Ray Johnson's), Sarasota, FL (restaurant) - Locating Tiki

D Dustycajun Tiki Socialite Santa Barbara, CA Joined: Nov 16, 2007 Posts: 5295	D Dustycajun Posted posted on Sun, Jan 29, 2012 8:13 AM Name:Polynesian Village (Ray Johnson's) Type:restaurant Street:5 Poinits City:Sarasota State:FL Zip: country:USA Phone: Status:defunct Description: Another Florida location from the Google archives, Ray Johnson's Polynesian Village. Seems as though Ray was the leader of a band an built his own place to play in. An article on the grand opening from December, 1959. Sounds like there were some expansive murals. Photo of the exterior, great sign and looks to be a Tiki mask in the entry. Opening day ad. There was the Bali Bar, Tahitian Room and dinning in the Luau Hut. A series of ads featuring the Ray Johnson and the Noblemen and different performers at the piano bar. That Tiki face is similar to the Luau 400. Another ad style. Not much info as this place only lasted a few years. Here is an article from 1961 when it was remodeled into the Beefeaters Restaurant Three truckloads of Polynesian artifacts hauled off to the dump! Oh the humanity of it all. DC
T TikiTomD Grand Member (6 years) Flagler Beach, FL Joined: Sep 20, 2009 Posts: 700	T TikiTomD Posted posted on Sun, Jan 29, 2012 6:02 PM DC, how ever did you find this place? Never heard of it... The open house article stated that it was in a popular spot occupied by three prior businesses; that might have been a clue on the prospects for sustained success... -Tom
D Dustycajun Tiki Socialite Santa Barbara, CA Joined: Nov 16, 2007 Posts: 5295	D Dustycajun Posted posted on Tue, Jan 31, 2012 12:28 PM TikiTomD, This one definitely flew under the radar. That Ray Johnson seemed to have tried everything to keep business going. The Polynesian Oyster Reef. The name of the street was Pineapple. He tried dancing girls and even took himself off the entertainment line-up. DC

D

Dustycajun Posted posted on Sun, Jan 29, 2012 8:13 AM

Name:Polynesian Village (Ray Johnson's)
Type:restaurant
Street:5 Poinits
City:Sarasota
State:FL
Zip:
country:USA
Phone:
Status:defunct

Description:
Another Florida location from the Google archives, Ray Johnson's Polynesian Village. Seems as though Ray was the leader of a band an built his own place to play in.

An article on the grand opening from December, 1959.

Sounds like there were some expansive murals.

Photo of the exterior, great sign and looks to be a Tiki mask in the entry.

Opening day ad.

There was the Bali Bar, Tahitian Room and dinning in the Luau Hut.

A series of ads featuring the Ray Johnson and the Noblemen and different performers at the piano bar.

That Tiki face is similar to the Luau 400.

Another ad style.

Not much info as this place only lasted a few years. Here is an article from 1961 when it was remodeled into the Beefeaters Restaurant

Three truckloads of Polynesian artifacts hauled off to the dump! Oh the humanity of it all.

DC

T

TikiTomD Posted posted on Sun, Jan 29, 2012 6:02 PM

DC, how ever did you find this place? Never heard of it...

The open house article stated that it was in a popular spot occupied by three prior businesses; that might have been a clue on the prospects for sustained success...

-Tom

D

Dustycajun Posted posted on Tue, Jan 31, 2012 12:28 PM

TikiTomD,

This one definitely flew under the radar. That Ray Johnson seemed to have tried everything to keep business going.

The Polynesian Oyster Reef.

The name of the street was Pineapple.

He tried dancing girls and even took himself off the entertainment line-up.

DC