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Hale Tiki now closed...but will reopen soon |
Brad 'The Beachcomber' Owens
Tiki Centralite
Joined: May 17, 2003
Posts: 97
From: Augusta, Georgia
|  Posted: 2006-02-23 10:52 am Permalink
Aloha,
I regret to inform you all that I have decided to close Hale Tiki. The last day of operation was last Friday.
The reasons for closing Hale Tiki are mostly personal on my part. Money, business, and public support are not the issues here. Hale Tiki has enjoyed great support from our town and some of you all as well.
Hale Tiki has been one of the high points of my life so far and I enjoyed every minute of it. However, I have had a rough six months and I am choosing to do something different with my life now.
There are several offers on the table from interested parties and I might sell Hale tiki lock-stock-and-barrel. But chances are I will not, and that the closing will be for good.
I want to thank all of you that have supported us during the past two years and hope that Hale Tiki has helped the hobby.
I will drop by Tiki Central from time to time but just as this is my first visit in a while, it will be my last visit for a while. If you would like to contact me try my e-mail.
I just thought that you all would like to know.
Thanks You All and Goodbye,
Brad
[ This Message was edited by: Brad 'The Beachcomber' Owens 2006-02-24 08:07 ]
[ This Message was edited by: Brad 'The Beachcomber' Owens 2006-03-03 13:46 ]
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johntiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 31, 2002
Posts: 1528
From: MD
| Posted: 2006-02-23 12:04 pm Permalink
Sad as it may be... is anyone surprised? I'm kind of astonished it held on as long as it did. I'm just sorry I never got a chance to see it.
_________________
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SilverLine
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 02, 2004
Posts: 636
From: Kansas City
| Posted: 2006-02-23 1:42 pm Permalink
Sad to hear. Was there just not enough business coming through the door?
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Molokai Mike
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jun 26, 2003
Posts: 511
From: the birthplace of the Mai Tai
| Posted: 2006-02-23 2:24 pm Permalink
Sorry to hear this Brad. Good luck in all your future ventures.
Darn!! Yet another tiki bar closed before I had a chance to experience it!!
Support your local tiki bar folks.. It's a hard sell out there!!
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Atomicchick
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Sep 08, 2003
Posts: 587
From: Southern California
| Posted: 2006-02-23 2:45 pm Permalink
That sucks!
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bigbrotiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 25, 2002
Posts: 11581
From: Tiki Island, above the Silverlake
| Posted: 2006-02-23 3:35 pm Permalink
What a bummer. This was one fine place. Lot's of labor of love went into it, by Bamboo Ben, Crazy Al, and by Swanky, and most of all by Basement Kahuna. Brad's break up with BK left the memory of it somewhat tainted. It was flattering to know the BOT was it's source, yet Brad always seemed to have his own agenda, loosing good people in the process.
That next door lounge to it was a mid-century marvel, what ever happened to those restaurant plans? I feel privileged to have seen the Hale Tiki, thanks to Tiki Kiliki, and Swanky.
It is a fact of life that while we sometimes succeed in creating our own perfect personal paradise, we as people are less than perfect. Marlon Brando owned his own Tahitian island, and it did not make him happy, proving again that the QUEST for paradise on earth is more important than reaching it.
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teaKEY
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 09, 2004
Posts: 3683
From: The thumb !
| Posted: 2006-02-23 4:16 pm Permalink
"I hope that Hale Tiki has helped the hobby"-Brad
I haven't drank out of a tiki mug in a awhile, and this weekend past I drank out of a couple a night. One was the blue Hale Tiki mug created by BK and I was thinking how much I like this mug.
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Swanky
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 03, 2002
Posts: 5272
From: Hapa Haole Hideaway, TN
| Posted: 2006-02-23 4:35 pm Permalink
I'll keep my ears open for a closing auction if there is one. Maybe some folks can get their donations returned. We were just talking about going to visit the place again.
_________________
"Mai-Kai: History & Mystery of the Iconic Tiki Restaurant" the book
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Kailuageoff
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 27, 2002
Posts: 1504
From: Honolulu Lounge,Lewes, DE
| Posted: 2006-02-23 4:48 pm Permalink
Quote:
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On 2006-02-23 15:35, bigbrotiki wrote:
proving again that the QUEST for paradise on earth is more important than reaching it.
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This is what I tell my wahine every time another tiki package arrives in the mail, or I head off to search the local antique malls and thrift stores.
Sorry, we didn't go to the grand opening when life was sweeter...
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RevBambooBen
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 12, 2002
Posts: 7911
From: Huntikington Beach
| Posted: 2006-02-23 7:25 pm Permalink
http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/13934659.htm
Hey Brad!!!
Wait!!!!!
Talk to Doug!!! He knows how to run a good bar!!!
It's all in the music! I'm telling y'all! One can't just listen to exotica the entire time!!! A bar is in biz. to sell drinks. Not naps! Good tunes keep things alive!!
Make the locals happy! They are your bread and butter!!!!
Not the seldom visit from the tiki freak who racks you over the coals to nit pick and bitch!
So what if there is a pool table, or a t.v., or a neon beer lite!!!
You got to do what you got to do!!
I'd like to see the "authors" open their own bars and see if they succeed...
... Just doesn't happen now days.
Do what you got to do, but, talk to the owners of the most popular bars in the u.s. and finger out your sit-ch.
It was a fun build out. Just hate to see it go down so fast.
_________________
Bamboo Ben
Tiki Bars I've designed/built. TikiCat, Royal Hawaiian, Kona Club, Frankie's Tiki Room, Pacific Seas, Don the Beachcomber,Forbidden Island, Kon Tiki Tucson, Tiki No,etc....
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ikitnrev
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jul 27, 2002
Posts: 1323
From: D.C. / Virginia
| Posted: 2006-02-23 9:18 pm Permalink
What is the selling price (and more importantly) the shipping cost? Someone should buy the place, move everything into a couple of semi-trucks, and have the first traveling 'on the road' tiki bar.
Seriously, if there is any chance of someone offering to buy and run the place as is - as a great tiki place, do seriously consider that offer.
I do understand that operating any bar/restaurant is an iffy business, with no guarantees for long term success - and for that I commend you for being part of the vision of creating the Hale Tiki in the first place. I made the trip there only once last year, and it was a very memorable visit.
Vern
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Satan's Sin
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jun 13, 2004
Posts: 729
From: Imperial Beach, CA
| Posted: 2006-02-23 10:13 pm Permalink
Brad,
I used to live in Aiken -- how weird is that? Also have cousins in Augusta. Augusta's a very nice town, esp. if you're into golf.
Condolences on the closing of your business. Going into business is tough indeed, is it not? Well, you gave it a good shot, and God bless you. Faint heart ne'r won the fair lady and all that, and believe me I know whereof I speak. Wish I could buy you a drink.
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Johnny Dollar
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Oct 01, 2003
Posts: 3063
From: Columbus, Ohiya
| Posted: 2006-02-24 05:10 am Permalink
what's going to happen to all the donated items?
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martiki
Official Mixologist
Joined: Mar 29, 2002
Posts: 3059
From: http://www.smugglerscovesf.com
| Posted: 2006-02-24 07:32 am Permalink
Quote:
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On 2006-02-23 14:24, Conga Mike wrote:
Support your local tiki bar folks.. It's a hard sell out there!!
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Truer words never spoken.
Very sorry to hear it Brad. Wish I could have seen it.
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mrsmiley
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 03, 2002
Posts: 3186
From: Las Vegas, NV
| Posted: 2006-02-24 12:21 pm Permalink
[quote]
On 2006-02-23 19:25, RevBambooBen wrote:
http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/13934659.htm
From the article--"But that's it. Subdued (and let's hope it stays that way). Every time you turn around there's not a Moai in your face (think Conga Lounge), and you don't have to watch the same surf video until you're seasick. Welcome home, neighbors."
I say OUCH!! I'd rather have the same surf video than a Muted (or worse, WITH SOUND)version of The Best Damn Sports Show Period!
As for Moai's, I say "Mo Moai(and cowbwells!)".
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