Tiki Bars
The Polynesian - Torrance
Torrance, California, United States (Closed)
Opened on August 25th, 1957 and closed due to fire in 1959, but was refurbished and re-opened in 1960 to run for 4 more years before being sold in 1964.
It was festooned with tiki idols, torches and artifacts, lots of palms and other exotic flora to frame diners enjoying authentic Polynesian cuisine. They even had a miniature volcano and waterfall built in the tropical garden, which also featured an ornate bridge.
The unusual Polynesian Kava and Tiki bowls in their old menu have fueled many expeditions for these "crypto mugs", and it is thought they must have been available for only a brief time as they are not shown in the later menu version.
In 1964 the Polynesian briefly became Jamaica West (a youth-oriented dancing and nightclub spot) for a year or so, and was then purchased by Hop Louie who re-opened it as Latitude 20 in 1966. Latitude 20 ran through 1980 before being sold to developers who decided to stray from the Polynesian theme and go Country. It was a Waco's and then a Calamity's before the structure was finally leveled in 1984.
The site is now a strip mall.
Outrigger Club - Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States (Closed)
Open at least as early as January 17th, 1965 as advertised in the Daily Oklahoman.
This restaurant was located in the Rio Motor Hotel.
There was another Outrigger Club about 100 miles away in Ardmore, OK.
Kalua Room
Seattle, Washington, United States (Closed)
This restaurant was located in the Hotel Windsor and opened on December 2nd, 1953.
It was one of the first to put a tiki image next to its name in their logo and advertising.
It also issued several mugs which are thought to be some of the earliest as well, close on the heels of the Tiki Bob mug and some of the early Trader Vic's pieces.
The Kalua Room closed @1968 or 1969.
There is now a large shopping & restaurant complex where the hotel once stood.
Junkanoo
Washington, District of Columbia, United States (Closed)
Junkanoo appears to have had Carribean influences in addition to tiki (Junkanoo is a Bahamian festival). Junkanoo may have later been called Krakatoa.
The drink menu states that the mugs, which were available for sale at the front desk, were made by Potter's House Workshop in Washington, D.C.
Junkanoo closed in the 1970s and was finally demolished in 1988.
The restaurant currently at this site is called Gazuza and is a hookah lounge that also serves sushi.
Aloha - Rochester
Rochester, New York, United States (Closed)
Aloha was opened in 1963 by Chwan Sheu and his sister Yu Tey Chi.
Sheu died in September of 2009, and was 83 years old.
During the period of 1987 to 1992, the Aloha was not run by the original Aloha family but they took the reins back over at the end and ran it at least through May of 1993. It does not appear to have lasted very long after that, however.
The restaurant now at this site is a Japanese steakhouse called "Sakura Home."
There was also an Aloha Motel located just up Monroe at 2729 (now the Clarion Pointe), and it appears to have been opened by the Sheu family who were entrepreneurs and opened at least two other restaurants and had a hand in helping many other Chinese immigrants to find work or start their own restaurants in the US.
A curious footnote - on January 5th, 1968, News Channel 8 WROC reported that a stolen tiki weighing at least 500 lbs had been found and returned to Mr. Chieu Shu (incorrect spelling or possible relative of Chwan Sheu), vice-president and general manager of the Aloha restaurant in Pittsford Plaza, who decided not to press charges against those found responsible. This video coverage is still available online.
Hawaiian Cottage
Cherry Hill, New Jersey, United States (Closed)
The Hawaiian Cottage restaurant was opened by Michael and Mary Egidi-Pietrafesa in 1938. Sometime between 1960 and 1966, the city of Merchantville changed its name to Cherry Hill, so items from Hawaiian Cottage will bear either name. The building had unusual domed pineapple and coconut roofs. There were floor shows, and leis and souvenir photos for customers. In 1954 a gift shop opened under the pineapple roof. On July 1, 1978, the restaurant was destroyed by a fire. The site is now the location of an Olive Garden.
Mauna Loa - Detroit
Detroit, Michigan, United States (Closed)
Opened August 12th, 1967.
Once a rather lavish Polynesian palace (the construction cost was $1.6 million), the Mauna Loa is little discussed, but may have even been on par with the Kahiki Supper Club in Columbus or the Mai Kai in Ft. Lauderdale. It didn't last long, closing just a few short years after opening (bankrupted in 1971). The menus, mugs and serving items that came out of the Mauna Loa were uniquely beautiful, and thanks to its short life, rather rare.
The building that once housed the Mauna Loa has burned down, and the site is now the parking lot for the St. Regis hotel.
Pacific Island Traders
Oceanside, California, United States (Closed)
Open circa 2003-2006.
This place featured new retail items -- such as new bamboo furniture, including bedroom and living room sets. Lots of gift items like soaps, candles, and wind chimes. They had tikis but they were imported. They may have had a few Tiki Farm mugs.
Most recently, this site was home to UP Sports (sporting goods, surf & paddle shop). As of 2022, the building appears to be vacant.
The Temple Bar
Berkeley, California, United States (Closed)
The Temple Bar was owned and run by a Hawaiian family, and for a time had only been open for special events, such as visiting Hawaiian musicians, or occasional Sunday luaus. Toward the end, it began staying open five nights a week as a restaurant. It closed in 2011.
Pantley's Pagan Hut
Depoe Bay, Oregon, United States (Closed)
Opened some time in the 1950s (circa 1956 or so) by Robert Pantley.
Was owned & operated by Pantley's Motel Apartments, right on the ocean.
The Pagan Hut lasted into the early-mid 1960s. It then became known as known as the Surfpoint Inn. The Surfpoint seemed to run in to some trouble. In December, 1968, the tide came so far inland that it smashed the property windows and flooded the dining room. In October, 1977, the property was seriously damaged by a series of storms that hit the Oregon Coast.
Later, the motel became the King Surf Resort, and this restaurant became the Pikake Hut.
At some point in its history, the bar was known as the Pupule Lanai.
There was also a Pantley's Pagan Hut on SW 10th and Stark in Portland, OR (1960-1962) and a Pantley's Pagan Room in Bellevue, WA, which must have been related somehow.
The structures for Pantley's Motel Apartments and the Pagan Hut are gone, and timeshares are now on the spot.
Alfredo's Beach Club
Long Beach, California, United States
This is a snack bar -- no liquor license. It is part of an in-line skate shop. They rent themselves out and help with private parties, sometimes luaus or other Hawaiian-themed events.
There are a couple of tikis on premises but this is by no means a full-time tiki establishment.
Trader Vic's - Berlin
Mitte, Berlin, Germany (Closed)
This Trader Vic's location opened in the Hilton Berlin in 2003. It closed on March 28, 2009.