Tiki Bars
Tiki Lounge and Bar - Richmond
Richmond, Victoria, Australia (Closed)
Tiki Lounge and Bar was a tiki bar in the Melbourne area. It was created in 2006 by David Backler and Dianne Heywood-Smith, as part of their dance studio. There was a focus on fresh, quality ingredients and traditional tiki cocktails, directed by barman Kevin Clark, a.k.a. "Cocktail Kev." As the bar was connected to a dance studio, tango dance lessons were on offer, and the bar hosted an eclectic array of entertainment.
Closed as of August 2016.
Kon-Tiki - Kuwait City
Kuwait City, Kuwait (Closed)
Opened in 2004. Kon-Tiki was a Polynesian restaurant in the Radisson Blu Hotel in Salwa, a sort of suburb of Kuwait City. It is right on the Persian Gulf. Alcohol is illegal in Kuwait, and so this was a restaurant only. The design of the restaurant was very unusual, in that it actually sat directly beneath an authentic Kuwaiti dhow, the Al Boom, which is in permanent dry-dock; the hull of the ship formed a dramatic curved wall and partial ceiling for the restaurant. It did appear to have some tikis.
Closed in 2008. Replaced by Rangoli Indian Restaurant. As of 2019, The Kimchi Korea Grill occupies this location.
Kon-Tiki Theatre
Trotwood, Ohio, United States (Closed)
The Kon-Tiki Theatre opened in August 1968, the first movie that showed there was "The Odd Couple" starring Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau. The structure was a mix of Asian and Polynesian influences; there were illuminated tiki masks on the outside of the building, lava rock and abalone on the exterior, and giant clamshell sinks in the restrooms. It was owned by the Levin Theater Company chain. It had one screen when it opened, and two more screens were added over the years, at which point it was re-named Kon-Tiki Cinemas 1-2-3.
In 1987, the theater was leased to another company, who renamed it the Salem Avenue Cinemas.
Last operated by Loews, it was closed on January 31, 1999 and sat vacant until January 4, 2005.
Over time, there was extensive damage to the building, due to vandals breaking in, and some busted water pipes that left a nasty mold problem. In the end, the Levins (who still owned the property) donated the Kon-Tiki to the city of Trotwood. The city demolished the building on January 5, 2005, to allow the space to be redeveloped.
The Tiki Terrace - Prospect Heights
Prospect Heights, Illinois, United States (Closed)
This was the original location for The Tiki Terrace; it opened in 2005 and closed in December 2007 and then opened four months later in a new, improved location in nearby Des Plaines.
This restaurant and entertainment venue was the realization of a dream of the Zuziak family, whose A Custom Production supplies the Chicago area with Polynesian and tropical decor and props.
Around 20 tikis were carved for the Tiki Terrace, other decor included rock formations and moai. The restaurant was divided into three dining rooms and a bar: Rapa Nui Row, The Ali'i, Kapa Nui Kove, and the Tiki Cocktail Bar. Cocktail waitresses doubled as hula entertainment, courtesy of a partnership with Gwen Kennedy of local luau organizer Barefoot Hawaiian.
Mai Tiki Gallery
Cocoa Beach, Florida, United States (Closed)
Mai Tiki was the business of tiki carver Wayne Coombs, and his Mai Tiki Gallery opened in 1973. Wayne started carving tikis in 1967, and continued carving tikis for 45 years. He was the pioneer of what has become a distinctive style for tikis out of Florida. He did custom work not just in carving, but also painting, and other tiki decor. His showroom offered a variety of one-of-a-kind tikis and masks.
Wayne Coombs passed away of a heart attack in September 2012, and the gallery closed in November 2013.
Kapu Tiki Apartments
Pico Rivera, California, United States
This building was designed by Mayer Construction in 1961 and its working title was the "Lanikai", later changed to "Kapu Tiki". The decor was provided by Oceanic Arts.
This apartment building is in a row of three Polynesian-themed apartment buildings, the others being the Paradise Island Apartments and the Aloha Arms.
Facing them, from left to right, this would be the first location in the row.
Today, the Kapu Tiki looks quite different. First, the A-frame entrance was completely removed. Then, later, the tiki masks on either end were removed. There is a ghost of the "TIKI" lettering detectable on the front and the lava rock on either end is still there, however.
Tiki Doré
Montréal, Quebec, Canada (Closed)
Tiki Doré was opened by Douglas Chan, a former employee of the Montreal Kon-Tiki. Chan sold Tiki Doré in 1990. (Chan also founded the nearby Jardin Tiki.) Tiki Doré closed in January 2000, and the location is now a Russian gourmet deli of sorts (as of 2021).
Aku-Tiki Room
Kewanee, Illinois, United States (Closed)
The Aku-Tiki Room was in the Andris Waunee Farm Restaurant, in a remote area just off Rural Route 2. Glen Andris purchased the farm in 1953, but didn't add on the tiki room until 1967 - inspired not by a trip to Hawaii, but instead by winter trips to Acapulco, and time spent in the Aku-Tiki restaurant there. The room was expanded in 1984.
It closed in January 2008, and there was an auction of the remains in June 2008.
Pub Tiki
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States (Closed)
Opened July 10th, 1961.
Pub Tiki had "1-1/2" incorporated into its logo tiki -- the reason for this is unclear, it has been rumored that this was their promise to pour drinks on the heavy side (1-1/2 shot where 1 was called for), or perhaps it was a reference to their 1-1/2 hours of free parking. There were other restaurants in this "Pub" chain, but this was the only Polynesian themed location. A non-tiki Pub location still exists in New Jersey.
Zombie Hut - Sacramento
Sacramento, California, United States (Closed)
The Zombie Hut was a Hawaiian/Polynesian-themed restaurant, nightclub and Tiki bar located on Freeport Blvd. between Florin Road and Sutterville Road in Sacramento, California that originally opened in 1945 after the end of WWII and continuing for 45 years until its closing in 1990.
It was known for its dance entertainment, including the Samoan Fire Knife Dance and Slap Dance.
This location is now a strip mall.
Kon-Tiki Ports - Chicago
Chicago, Illinois, United States (Closed)
Opened August 6th, 1962.
This restaurant was operated by Steve Crane Associates, which also operated the Kon-Tiki chain, and the Luau in Beverly Hills. It was in the Sheraton-Chicago; this building had begun as the Medinah Athletic Club, which was exclusively for Shriners. Today this hotel is an InterContinental.
There was a Kon-Tiki Ports in Boston as well. These locations featured themed rooms modeled after Singapore, Papeete, Saigon, and Macau.
Kon-Tiki - Honolulu
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States (Closed)
Opened June 22nd, 1971, two weeks after the grand opening of the Sheraton-Waikiki hotel of which it was a part.
Guests could take a twisting orchid staircase or glass elevator ride beside the flowing waterfall up to the Hanohano Room (second floor dining room).
This restaurant was part of the Kon-Tiki chain owned by Steve Crane.
After the Kon-Tiki closed in 1993, its tikis were purchased by the nearby La Mariana.