This listing is for the Mai-Tai Supper Club's second location at 141 Grand Avenue in Schofield, Wisconsin. They opened in mid-June of 1974.

It was behind the Kenron Motel on the North end of Schofield, just on the left as you came into Schofield from Wausau. Today (as of 2024) this location is a U-Haul Moving & Storage.

Their large roof sign left little doubt as to what they served -- "Beef N' Spirits"! According to advertisements, they served a complete menu including steaks, seafood, and chops.

Matchbooks from the first location advertise the same, but with the addition of Cantonese appetizers and entrees as well. And Exotic Cocktails. It's unclear whether this second location also served Cantonese food.

However, this location's history is eclipsed by what happened to the old location!

The Mai-Tai Supper Club is shown here in 1978, the same year the original restaurant location at 1539 Rose St. in LaCrosse was sold by Rachel Skoug to Glenn Addis.

The first location on Rose Street lasted under the "Mai Tai" name at least through Mother's Day of 1980 according to newspaper advertisements in the La Crosse Tribune.

In January 1983, Addis sold the property to Arthur Lucas, who renamed the LaCrosse restaurant location "Arthur's Restaurant". The restaurant closed five months later.

Later that year, Lucas was convicted of first degree-murder. According to news reports, Lucas shot Theodore and Carlene Ann Buschkopf in a Winona, MN., hotel room; Theodore Buschkopf died from his injuries. Investigators later discovered that Arthur Lucas and Carlene Ann Buschkopf had planned the hit in order to collect life insurance money to fund the restaurant's intended reopening.

Instead, the building was razed.

Carlene died in custody in 2010. Arthur was released in 2013 after serving nearly 30 years in prison.

Club Zombie, a pre-tiki bar, opened inside the Hawley House Hotel (West St. Clair Avenue and West 3rd Street) on Thursday, December 19th, 1940. It was owned by Sammy Brin.

Club Zombie was one of the first tropical/pre-tiki bars in Cleveland and featured tropical theming that extended from its lush decor to its Polynesian drinks.

Club Zombie frequently featured local and national entertainment acts, including top-billed female impersonators. In 1946, “Boys Will Be Girls Revue,” an immensely popular and nationally-renowned female impersonator revue starring Lynne Carter, Titanic, and Del Raye, maintained top billing at Club Zombie for over seven consecutive weeks.

This club was open at least through 1946 according to newspaper advertisements, and possibly later...

This was Bob Brooks's second Seven Seas location. The first was in Hollywood.

This pre-tiki bar was located in Las Vegas at the Nevada Biltmore, but it was short-lived, lasting just from 1942-1944.

From the Las Vegas ashtray website:

“The Biltmore was built on this corner in 1942 by Bob Brooks. His single-story resort on 17 acres -- featuring a hotel, cottages, showroom, casino, restaurant, bar and pool-was Polynesian-themed, a motif he'd brought with him from his famous Seven Seas restaurant and lounge in Hollywood.For nearly three years the investment paid off, thanks to business from the expanding Army Air Field at the north end of town. But by the end of 1944, Brooks saw the Biltmore's future dimming and sold the resort. It changed owners (one of whom was famed bandleader Horace Heidt who later opened the tiki-themed Horace Heidt's Magnolia Estate Apartments) until June 1948, when four well-known members of the white community purchased the resort as the Nevada Biltmore Hotel Corporation.“

Photos below show the Biltmore exterior with neon tubing sign for "Seven Seas Room" unlit in the daytime (see wide and then close-ups of sign).

From The Cove:

"Established in 1952 by Gene Kopp, the décor and façade were much different than they are today. The building had previously been a roofing store, made of cinderblock, which was painted to tout the original 'The Cove.' Rumors tell of slot machines being residents of the early Cove, before they were made to be removed.

Gene’s son, Richard Kopp, came home from California, where he worked at a ship-yard, in the 70’s to help his father run the business. He introduced the nautical and tiki theme to The Cove, re-faced the cinder block with lumber, and brought many items from the shipyard, including the hatch doors that he made into the Cove tables we still use to this day. He eventually took ownership of The Cove and continued to add tiki flair, rumored to have been modeled after a favorite bar in Mexico, including the classic light fixtures covered with blowfish shades, and other décor that is still proudly cared for, throughout the remodels and facelifts in later years.

During Richard’s ownership, a young girl named Charlotte joined his employment as a cook and worked her way to management and then eventually became owner of the business. Charlotte Meyers' notoriety as the next Cove owner was in her amazing capacity to care for and cultivate an incredibly loyal following of people… lots and lots of people. Her guests became members of her family, whether she called them 'Honey' or by their name, she loved them all. She threw grand parties, danced while balancing shot glasses on her head, and was perpetually the life of the party – whether at The Cove or supporting other local businesses. Her loving nature extended to her predecessors, whole heartedly pouring herself into introducing the next owners to her loyal patrons and friends, and mentoring during the next transitional period.

Debra and Johnny Urrutia purchased The Cove in 2005, having minimal experience in the bar and restaurant industry. They were local entertainers who wanted to have a place of their own to celebrate live music after other venues either closed or traded in their stages for pre recorded music. Deb left her profession in teaching to take Charlotte’s crash course in bar & restaurant management, and, perhaps against the odds, eventually found her footing and came to cherish the role.

Deb and John, with the help of friends, family, and supporters, chose one area at a time to remodel or refurbish. They added a patio for outdoor seating, completely remodeled the bathrooms and kitchen, replaced the bar, and added a saltwater fish tank for guests to enjoy. All the while, there was a strong dedication to keep the integrity of the theme and the richness of the history. Throughout their years of ownership, business has steadily grown, thanks to the continued patronage of loyal guests and an amazing crew of employees who charm first time visitors into becoming the newest members of our Cove family!"

The Tropics Motor Hotel was located in Seattle by the Space Needle.

It was built in 1958-1959 and opened in 1959.

It served as the host hotel for the 1962 World's Fair. It was once the only luxury hotel in downtown Seattle.

The masonry, five-story hotel cost approximately $1,750,000 to erect.

The Island Room had a mix of island decor - including Polynesian as well as Caribbean.

The pool area of the hotel also had a lava rock waterfall feature with clamshells and a tile mosaic of Hawaii's Diamond Head.

Closed some time shortly prior to 1991, when the iconic sign was taken down.

It then became a Quality Inn and Suites, and continues under that name today (as of 2024).

Opened October 4th, 2024.

This bar’s space used to be occupied by Nacho Daddy, which relocated just north to 121 North 4th Street while its team ventures into the tropical with Glitter Gulch Tiki. The name “Glitter Gulch” has been absent from downtown Las Vegas since the Topless Girls of Glitter Gulch club closed in 2016. Glitter Gulch, the decades-old nickname for the sparkly stretch of downtown, earns its way into this tiki bar with elements of neon in the ceiling and glitter in the tables.

Bamboo Ben and Son did an outstanding job on the build-out on this bar with all the traditional bamboo, thatching, and tiki carvings.

With a 90-person capacity, the venue boasts beachy lounge areas, a centerpiece bar, and a dance floor accompanied by a stage for live music.

A standout visual element also includes tiki window wraps by local artist Shawn Gatlin, also known as You Killed Me First.

There are also a huge number of mugs on display, especially from Tiki Farm.

The Inter-Island Resorts' Kauai Surf Hotel - at Kalapaki Beach - Kauai opened on July 1st, 1960.

Kauai Surf is still with us, in another incarnation and after all these decades, it is still one of the most popular Hawaiian destinations. It was bought by Westin in 1985, completely overhauled (to the tune of $22 million) and reopened in 1987 as the Kauai Westin. Out went the tikis and in came an over the top pan-Asian motif! They added dozens of Asian statues, some small, some huge, still scattered across the hotel's incredible 51 acres. What was the Kauai Surf's pond and gardens, became the Westin's swimming pool, the biggest in the state, measuring 26,000 square feet of water surface and 210 feet in diameter. Barely out of debt, the hotel was devastated by Hurricane Iniki in 1992 and stood vacant until 1995, when the property was purchased by Marriott.

It then became the Kauai Marriott Resort and Beach Club. Remodeled yet again, Marriott replaced most of the Westin's Asian art with Hawaiian art. As mentioned above, many of the Asian statues still remain. But the overall decor is now Polynesian. Throughout the hotel's common areas are dozens of exhibits of shark-tooth weapons, hula instruments and drums and Kapa cloth (a couple of pieces dating back to the 18th century) and all the art is of pre-colonized Hawaii. Bright tropical patterns characterize the newly reupholstered restaurant and lobby furniture. The new lobby area rugs also have tropical themed patterns. Overall you will definitely feel that you are in a Hawaiian resort.

The mid-century furniture and swings are gone, and most of the original Tikis are history, except for 3 carvings on the beach, but the rooms still look basically the same.

The Planter's Lounge is now Duke's Canoe Club, the main restaurant and bar at the resort.

Throughout these remodels, they never tore down or altered the basic structure of the original Kauai Surf. A new tower has been added, flanking the pool, but the original towers still remain, seemingly untouched!

The hotel with which Marriott's Kauai Beach Club shares a campus has changed management and been re-branded as the Royal Sonesta Kauai Resort Lihue Hotel effective March 24, 2021.

The first Teddy's Bigger Burgers opened in 1998.

While you’ll get great burgers (etc) at any of the Teddy’s locations spread out between Oahu and Maui (they have around 11 island locations and counting as of 2024) this Teddy’s located along Kamehameha Highway in Haleiwa is a unique one. Part tiki bar, part burger joint, this Teddy’s opened in 2015 and takes the cake as being the best of their locations.

Their decor is highly Instagrammable, thanks in-part to the touches of local artisan and carver, Gecko, of South Sea Arts. The food holds up to Teddy’s superior burger standards, and their shakes are the bees knees (order the Pineapple shake!), while the bar itself is a great place to congregate with the locals to watch the game and talk story. This ain’t your typical burger joint.

Opened in September of 2016.

This bar describes itself as a "Tropical leisure cocktail bar located in the heart of La Placita de Santurce."

They serve tiki and tropical cocktails with a rum focus, and use a variety of tiki mugs.

Like many recent bars, the decor is lightly tropical but not immersive with tiki carvings and artwork in the way that Trader Vics and Don the Beachcomber set the standards with -- and probably why they do not use the "Tiki" label for themselves, preferring to focus on the cocktails.

However there is at least one actual wood tiki carving in the outside patio area and the overall ambience is dimly lit and inviting, sure to attract tiki aficionados who might be in the area and thirsty for a crafted beverage.

Opened in April of 2023.

This is more of a tropical bar than a tiki bar.

Without "Tiki" in the name, there is nothing in the decor to support the "tikiness" of the venue. It would be equally at home in Mexico or Jamaica or the Caribbean.

Palapa thatched umbrellas designate seating areas and there are runners of palm thatching around the top and bottom of the bar which look like they could be quickly torn down in an afternoon if the Frenchman Hotel decided its Patio needed a re-fresh and a different theme.

One corner has some tropical wallpaper and a few large tropical flower prints. There are no tiki carvings or Polynesian artworks.

And, the stark concrete floor, large exposed brick walls, and black-painted industrial metal ceiling are at odds with the rest of the decor.

Despite this, they have a very good menu of tropical and tiki cocktails and have drawn high praise for the quality of their cocktails, created by Patrick Williams, VP of operations and innovation for Angevin & Co., which owns the hotel and bar.

Opened August 15th, 2023.

From Owen McGrath, who previously opened The Shot Cellar, also on Foch Street, in 2019; and Michele Kettle, his business partner at ShipWreck & The Shot Cellar, who also owns a cocktail bar in Midland called The Buffalo Nickel.

Premise: "Serving new and re-imagined Tiki Cocktails for our re-telling of the great adventures of Captain Jeffrey Alexander on the immersive eternal Jade Island."

This bar has a definite slant toward pirate and nautical but plenty of tiki details as well.

It is a large space and they use quite a bit of video projection on walls and ceiling. They also use audio for different drinks and scenarios for an immersive effect that must be experienced in person to be truly appreciated.

They also have an extensive menu of cocktails, with stories behind each one, and interactive puzzles to be solved which can unlock drinks for the persistent explorer!

Opened in 1965.

The Islander in Westport, Washington, was a premier marina front destination for fishermen, surfers and beach goers alike. With wonderful views of the fishing fleet of the Westport Marina, the Olympic Mountains, the vast Pacific Ocean and an awesome surf spot, the Islander was a favored getaway.

It was during the 60s that the motel advertised a dining room & coffee shop, 31 ocean view units, a large heated pool, and a Bamboo Room with dancing. See vintage flyer below...

In other ephemera and on swizzle sticks the Bamboo Room is called a "Tiki Room".

At some point this Bamboo/Tiki Room was remodeled...and all signs of tiki removed...

Neddie Rose Farrington, a legend in Westport, ruled the Marina from The Islander Resort for many decades, overseeing dozens of charter boat captains, countless fishermen, and many a wayward Karaoke superstar. When Neddie was ready to retire in 2004, she turned to a local land developer who was giving his best shot at updating Westport's tourist economy. The restaurant was remodeled and given a new name "The Half Moon Bay Bar and Grill" and the site underwent design and permitting to be redeveloped into a boutique hotel project. In 2008, the project was placed on hold when the regional, national, and world economic markets went into a tailspin.

The Islander was purchased in 2015 and re-opened in March 2017, under the same original name.

However, a fire in April of 2020 caused around $250,000 damage to the site.

After re-building and re-modeling, the site was re-christened as the Saltwater Inn and is currently in operation as of 2025.