Tiki Bars
Smorgy's - Burwood East
Burwood East, Victoria, Australia (Closed)
Created by Eric Schwaiger, Smorgy's was a chain that was started in the mid 1980s, expanded in the 1990s with more elaborate build-outs, and closed in the early 2000s. The food was all-you-can-eat buffet style and the decor featured some animatronics and many had Disney-esque style volcano entrances or waterfalls surrounded by jungle style shrubbery.
Trader Vic's - Düsseldorf
Stadtbezirk 1, Düsseldorf, Germany (Closed)
This Trader Vic's opened in the Breidenbacher Hof hotel in 1987. In 1999 the hotel closed, was eventually torn down and rebuilt, and when the hotel finally reopened in 2008 Trader Vic's was gone.
Trader Vic's - at the Crowne Plaza - Dubai
United Arab Emirates
Located in the Crowne Plaza Dubai. Opened in 1994 and had a makeover and was re-launched in April 2017.
The new design of the restaurant, which sits within the 3rd floor of the 5-star Crowne Plaza Hotel, makes the most of the floor-to-ceiling, with contemporary fabrics, new luxurious seating, Polynesian décor, paintings, artefacts and carpet designed exclusively for Trader Vic’s.
Tahitian Village
Downey, California, United States (Closed)
Opened July 11th, 1961.
Tahitian Village was a large, upscale motel complex designed by Armet and Davis, with decor provided by Oceanic Arts. The complex included a large restaurant and bar with music, dancing and a Polynesian floor show. The Apollo spacecraft development and construction happened nearby, and the Tahitian Village was a frequent destination for those working the project; Apollo astronauts were housed there.
After Tahitian Village closed, it became La Zona Rosa, a Mexican nightclub.
The building fell into extreme disrepair and was so squalid by 1995, that they were writing news articles about how something needed to be done about the location. It was finally razed in 2000 to make way for a strip mall.
Chin Tiki
Detroit, Michigan, United States (Closed)
Chin Tiki was opened in 1967 by Marvin Chin, who also opened Chin's Chop Suey in Livonia. Chin Tiki closed around 1980, but the space and decor remained relatively intact for years, spurring periodic rumors about it reopening. Chin Tiki was featured in the Eminem movie 8 Mile (2002); during the filming of 8 Mile, apparently much of the kitchen equipment went missing.
Marvin Chin passed away in April 2006. In February 2007, the deed to the property was passed to Ilitch Holdings, which owns much of the surrounding property.
The building that housed the Chin Tiki was demolished on March 6, 2009.
Trader Vic's - Detroit
Detroit, Michigan, United States (Closed)
This Trader Vic's was located in the once-beautiful Statler Hotel. After the Hilton chain bought the Statler in the early 60's, this Trader Vic's was opened on the ground floor (sometime between 1963 and 1968). At this Trader Vic's, the bartenders were contained behind glass, much like the Chinese Ovens -- the waitstaff handled all the drink serving, and there was no customer interaction with the bartenders. The restaurant had a jacket-required dress code, and had jackets on-hand to be loaned out. There was a VIP area with peacock chairs for special clientele.
The hotel changed hands several times between 1969 and when it finally went bankrupt and closed in 1975. The contents of the Trader Vic's went for only $7,500 at auction in January of the following year. The massive Statler has sat vacant for 30 years, until the hotel was razed in 2005.
Trader Vic's - at the Hotel Cosmopolitan - Denver
Denver, Colorado, United States (Closed)
This Trader Vic's location was originally opened in 1954 under the name "The Outrigger", located in Hotel Cosmopolitan at 18th and Broadway. The Hotel Cosmopolitan opened in 1926 and was demolished in 1984.
The Outrigger name changed to Trader Vic's in 1962.
This Trader Vic's closed in 1978 when the corporation decided they wanted a fresher location than the, by that time, 52-year-old hotel, and Trader Vic's opened a different location at the brand-new Denver Hilton three blocks away.
A Don the Beachcomber's moved into the vacated spot left by Trader Vic's at the Cosmopolitan.
The second Trader Vic's location at the Hilton lasted until 1985.
Mai Tai Bar
Daytona Beach, Florida, United States
Opened in 2002. The Mai Tai Bar is tucked away in Ocean Walk Shoppes, overlooking the historic Bandshell and featuring a view of the Atlantic Ocean.
Hawaiian Inn
Daytona Beach, Florida, United States
The Hawaiian Inn opened circa July of 1965.
This Polynesian-themed resort complex is right on the Atlantic Ocean; most of its 208 spacious hotel rooms have private balconies overlooking the ocean. The hotel has a number of amenities, including a large outdoor pool, an indoor pool, shuffleboard, and a beachside 9-hole putt-putt course, and most of the rooms include small kitchenettes. There is also the poolside Ohana Tiki Bar and Grill.
The hotel has seen better days. There is no remnant of its Polynesian history in the rooms, which appear to have undergone remodels at some point in the 80s -- all of the rooms used to have Witco headboards, which can now be seen as wall hangings throughout the hotel. Outside of the rooms, there are some nice touches, including bamboo-encased garbage cans and Witco furniture.
Check for scheduling, but the resort regularly hosts a Hawaiian Luau Dinner Show.
Just up the street from Hawaiian Inn, you'll find Aku Tiki Inn and Traders Restaurant.
Aku Tiki Inn
Daytona Beach Shores, Florida, United States
Built in 1968.
The Aku Tiki Inn features an imposing moai at the entrance, complete with glowing red eyes. Some nice Witco pieces can be seen in the lobby. Connected to the Aku Tiki Inn is the Traders Restaurant (with the Aku Tiki Bar).
The Hawaiian Inn can be found just down the street.
In 2004, the oceanfront hotel sustained some damage from Hurricane Charley. The signature moai at the front of the hotel was damaged beyond repair. By 2005 the hotel had been repaired, with a new signature moai built with the help of Florida tiki artist Wayne Coombs.
Green Turtle Restaurant - at The Hawaiian Inn
Daytona Beach, Florida, United States (Closed)
Originally called the Waikiki Lounge & Supper Club.
The Green Turtle Restaurant was part of the Hawaiian Inn resort complex. Teauila's (pronounced like "tequila" would sound if the q was silent) Hawaiian Luau Dinner Show took place here four nights a week. The dinner show was a package deal, including the entertainment and a Chinese-food buffet; tropical drinks were extra.
The room featured lamps from Oceanic Arts, and a very heavy use of black-light. The show itself featured a full band, male and female hula dancers, and included a dramatic use of fire. A handful of male visitors were selected from the audience to try their hand at hula-ing on stage while wearing a coconut bra and grass skirt.
NOTE: This restaurant was closed as of 2017, although the Hawaiian Inn Resort still hosts a Hawaiian Luau Dinner Show in this space, but you should check for scheduling.
Just up the street you can find the Aku Tiki Inn and Traders Restaurant.
Momilani's
Dana Point, California, United States (Closed)
Momilani's was a Hawaiian goods store that carried some tiki items. The same space had previously been a similar store known as Hot Lava.
Momilani's was open at least as early as February of 2010 and closed in September 2013.