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Don the Beachcomber (Maui) is closing!!! |
tikibars
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 11, 2002
Posts: 2014
From: Aku Hall, Chicago
|  Posted: 2007-08-16 10:24 am Permalink
It is sad - but not surprising - that they are not using the great old A-frame as the nucleus for the new building.
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tikiyaki
Grand Member (5 years) 
Joined: May 18, 2004
Posts: 2677
From: The Exotic Port of REDONDO BEACH, CA
| Posted: 2007-08-16 12:05 pm Permalink
Quote:
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On 2006-12-01 00:23, tikibars wrote:
The manager of the Big Island location told me (in September) that the Royal Lahaina is undergoing a major renovation into 2007, but that no less than $5 million was being slated for a huge and major Don the Beachcomber location.
If you've seen the one on Big Island, you probably have a clue what we're in for.
A nice effort, but you can bet that the A-frame roof and all vintageness will be gone.
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I wouldn't jump to that conclusion just yet. Whomever bought the Don the Beachcomber name (his name is HOGAN, that's all I know) seems to really be into keeping it real. The Don's in KONA pretty much added to the existing restaurant that was there....the original Tikis and Carved style cement poles are still intact from the Royal Kona restaurant that preceded it, which had lots of Tiki elements. Even the cool geometric pattern carpet is still there.
Don's just moved in, and added to it.
I spoke to the BI manager as well, and asked him about the owner, and he said he's really into tiki. So I would bet that he's fighting to keep the A-Frame. He's also planning on going nationwide, so let's hope he does, so every major city has a DTB we can visit, instead of say, a Chili's.
Think about it...if you spent all this money to buy the "Don the beachcomber" name, you'd HAVE to have some sort of grasp as to what Tiki is about, and at least be a minor tikiphile.
It isn't exactly a household name these days.
Of course, the hotel will more than likely want to knock down the A-Frame, which is what to be concerned about.
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TikiJosh
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Feb 01, 2005
Posts: 735 | Posted: 2007-08-16 12:15 pm Permalink
Quote:
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On 2007-08-16 12:05, tikiyaki wrote:
Of course, the hotel will more than likely want to knock down the A-Frame, which is what to be concerned about.
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Which is more or less what the bartender told me-- they're going to knock it down and the new Don's location will be closer to the water. The bartender may have his info wrong, or the management may change their mind, but that was the current state of things in April.
The current building is completely unused. I mean, they're not even using it as a restaurant. It's not like part of it was walled off and being worked on either. The whole building is open, but only being used as a bar.
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closettiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 23, 2007
Posts: 294 | Posted: 2007-08-16 10:57 pm Permalink
i was also at the beachcomber this june....i pretty well got the same info......there was talk about expanding it to talk of replacing it....it would be a shame to destroy it...it still has that cool 60's feel.....just in case it was goin away i wasted no time in talking the mgnt out of thier remaining tiki farm ..don the beachcomber rum barrels...ive kept a few fo myself and im ebaying the remaining stash..got to cover the cost of my stash..... .
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Trader Rick
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Jul 04, 2003
Posts: 88
From: St Augustine Beach, FL
| Posted: 2007-08-17 06:50 am Permalink
Sad. There is so little vintage Tiki left anywhere.
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RevBambooBen
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 12, 2002
Posts: 7198
From: Huntikington Beach
| Posted: 2007-08-17 08:29 am Permalink
This page was generated by the TARR system on 2007-08-17 11:24:09 ET
Serial Number: 76536351 Assignment Information
Registration Number: 2938695
Mark (words only): DON THE BEACHCOMBER
Standard Character claim: No
Current Status: A cancellation proceeding has been filed at the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board and is now pending.
Date of Status: 2005-04-29
Filing Date: 2003-07-31
Transformed into a National Application: No
Registration Date: 2005-04-05
Register: Principal
Law Office Assigned: LAW OFFICE 112
If you are the applicant or applicant's attorney and have questions about this file, please contact the Trademark Assistance Center at TrademarkAssistanceCenter@uspto.gov
Current Location: 650 -Publication And Issue Section
Date In Location: 2005-02-24
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LAST APPLICANT(S)/OWNER(S) OF RECORD
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. MARISOL, LLC
Address:
MARISOL, LLC
3950 KOVAL LANE, # 2003
LAS VEGAS, NV 89109
United States
Legal Entity Type: LLC
State or Country Where Organized: Nevada
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GOODS AND/OR SERVICES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
International Class: 043
Class Status: Active
RESTAURANT AND BAR SERVICES
Basis: 1(a)
First Use Date: 2004-10-22
First Use in Commerce Date: 2004-10-22
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(NOT AVAILABLE)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MADRID PROTOCOL INFORMATION
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(NOT AVAILABLE)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PROSECUTION HISTORY
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2005-04-29 - Cancellation Instituted No. 999999
2005-04-05 - Registered - Principal Register
2005-01-04 - Law Office Registration Review Completed
2005-01-04 - Assigned To LIE
2004-12-22 - Allowed for Registration - Principal Register (SOU accepted)
2004-12-22 - Statement of use processing complete
2004-12-01 - Amendment to Use filed
2004-12-02 - PAPER RECEIVED
2004-11-17 - Extension 1 granted
2004-11-01 - Extension 1 filed
2004-11-01 - PAPER RECEIVED
2004-05-04 - Notice of allowance - mailed
2004-02-10 - Published for opposition
2004-01-21 - Notice of publication
2003-12-12 - Approved for Pub - Principal Register (Initial exam)
2003-12-11 - Assigned To Examiner
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ATTORNEY/CORRESPONDENT INFORMATION
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Attorney of Record
JOHN JOSEPH HALL
Correspondent
JOHN JOSEPH HALL
1631 BEVERLY BOULEVARD
LOS ANGELES, CA 90026-5746
Phone Number: (213)250-1145
Fax Number: (213)250-7781
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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TikiJosh
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Feb 01, 2005
Posts: 735 | Posted: 2007-08-20 12:42 pm Permalink
Quote:
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On 2007-08-16 22:57, closettiki wrote:
i was also at the beachcomber this june....i pretty well got the same info......there was talk about expanding it to talk of replacing it....it would be a shame to destroy it...it still has that cool 60's feel.....just in case it was goin away i wasted no time in talking the mgnt out of thier remaining tiki farm ..don the beachcomber rum barrels...ive kept a few fo myself and im ebaying the remaining stash..got to cover the cost of my stash..... .
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You want to just sell me one? The bartender when I was there in April didn't know anything about the rum barrels. Dang it!
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closettiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 23, 2007
Posts: 294 | Posted: 2007-08-20 1:01 pm Permalink
sure.......ive been selling them for about 50.00 to 60.00 each via ebay ....they were made by tiki farm ..but if you want one ...40.00 tiki central discount........shhhhhh dont tell anybody...plus shipping of 9.00 priorty....email me and you can use paypal or send a m/o......dalewoodall@gmail.com
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Pakalolo Man
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Sep 07, 2007
Posts: 32 | Posted: 2008-05-14 7:55 pm Permalink
This thread has been dormant for a while but I was wondering if anybody knows if this location is still "open".
Me and the Pakalolo Lady are going to Maui in a month and I'm wondering if it's worth visiting (or even open).
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Hinano_Paul
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jul 22, 2006
Posts: 211
From: Orange, Ca.
| Posted: 2008-05-14 9:12 pm Permalink
As of Oct.07 it was open but only for drinks and closes as like 9:00, and still serves as the VIP entrance for the luau.
But and a big but, in the lobby they had a model of the new resort in which Don's is gone and will be a lagoon if I remeber correctly. Also for those who love the old cottage style rooms, go while you can those are also to be replaced with a new timeshare style resort! Sad Sad Day!
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May your first child be a Moai child..
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Tattoo
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Sep 24, 2005
Posts: 152
From: Los Angeles
| Posted: 2008-05-15 09:57 am Permalink
Me and the wahine were staying at the Sheraton on Maui last week only to discover that the Don the Beachcomber was next door. So after dinner we decided to grab a drink at Don the Beachcomber. Who knew 8:45pm is closing time for a bar. We walked in an empty place with two guys cleaning up behind the bar. We just couldn't believe it was closed. He said the hours were from 4pm till 8pm but if he was working there he might keep the place open till 8:30pm - WOW! How wild and crazy it must get at 8:15pm! The place looked so so. A bunch of booths but with a lot of cool hanging lights and floats. Other than that totally lame. The coolest part is the sign outside. The bartender also suggested we go inside to the resort bar which was still open for the same special Don the beachcomber cocktails - meaning why even bother coming here. Any bar that is open from 4pm to 8pm will have a short live span. I'm sure you can't resist and check out the place but don't go out of your way.
My favorite place in Maui would have to be Big Mama's Fish House. Probably the classiest and best Tiki-ish restaurant I've ever been to. It's a classy and understated Tiki place and maybe not as kitschy as we all like it to be sometimes. It's right on the beach and when you walk the whole place is made out stunning wood and bamboo sprinkled with a handful of Tikis (not that many but they have a few). I've never seen so much beautiful Monkeypod and Koa wood in my life - the waitress said there are over 20 different woods in the place. There are three dining rooms. Two of them are illuminated by hanging fish floats and the main area is illuminated with hanging fish trap lights. All the wall sconces are real giant clam(?) shells and a lot of the walls have beautiful Tapa cloth panels worked into them. There are two beautiful bars both of which are made out of an assortment of bamboo, monkey pod, and Koa. The drinks were the best I had in Hawaii. How many bars actually use Falernum and still make a Scorpion out of four different rums?
The place is VERY EXPENSIVE (drinks $16, food $35-$45) but definitely worth it. Sinatra was a patron so that alone is a good enough reason for me to go. The food is amazing and the ambiance is truly fantastic. After dinner you can go for a nice stroll on their private little beach. Go here for a truly memorable experience but make reservations. They are booked days in advance.
I didn't have a camera but here are some grabs from their brochures and a menu scan:
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The plane! The plane!
[ This Message was edited by: Tattoo 2008-05-15 09:59 ]
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christiki295
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 09, 2003
Posts: 3616
From: LA-2547 mls east Hawaii &5500 Easter Is
| Posted: 2008-05-15 2:54 pm Permalink
Next to the Sheraton - Who knew?
I will try and hit it this weekend.
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dogbytes
Grand Member (8 years) 
Joined: Mar 24, 2002
Posts: 2240
From: seattle, wa
| Posted: 2008-05-15 5:54 pm Permalink
Quote:
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On 2008-05-15 14:54, christiki295 wrote:
Next to the Sheraton - Who knew?
I will try and hit it this weekend.
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lots of people know.. there's an old thread started by Hanford
here are my pix don's maui
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artsnyder
Grand Member (first year) 
Joined: Jan 20, 2009
Posts: 31
From: Los Angeles/Las Vegas
| Posted: 2009-03-20 11:21 pm Permalink
Aloha,friends:
I suppose that it is time to discuss just how the building we are talking about got built, why the property-owners stopped using "DON THE BEACHCOMBER(R)" in the 70's, only to put the sign back in the '90s, why it has not been used except for storage and an occasional makeshift bar for many years, and why it's being torn down.
DTB came to Maui in the 70s, when the owners of the property hired a management company to run its property. That company had the name "Don the Beachcomber," obtained from Donn shortly before, and one of its attractions as a manager was to be able to bring that magic name to the hotel. Their contract said, naturally and specifically that the owners of the location were not to obtain any right to the name, and if they left it went with them. It was this company that built the lovely old building we all admire.
Years later, the relationship between the managing company and the owners was terminated by agreement, and the Don the Beachcomber sign and use of the name was terminated. After that the property-owners used a Chinese restaurant name. However, not too much later, they figured out that while "Don the Beachcomber? belonged to the management company, they could use the generic term, "Beachcombers" without restriction. And so the old building had a new name.
"Beachcombers" then opened and had quite a success until the sewage started to back up and flood the kitchen. The owners had overburdened the island sewage system by their constant expansion, and the county health department closed "Beachcombers." Today it remains under the same order, and cannot legally operate as a restaurant, nor can it be used for anything that generates sewage. Even the spillage from the little makeshift bar they have there to serve the luau-goers with "Mai-Tais" in a plastic cup has to have its sewage carried away by bucket.
After that closure the building was generally used as storage. The kitchen is unused and covered with dust. The old refrigerators stand open. It has, except for the little bar, remained unused for anything related to DTB for these years.
Since then, while there has been a great deal of lip-service given to DTB at the hotel (a couple of Christmases ago they opened their main dining room briefly as DTB,but after the holiday returned it to the original.
The sign on the outside is a reasonably recent addition, placed there after they had discovered that old friends of Donn had obtained the right to the name, and were planning on opening one on the Mainland. It has done little good, since the owners never have and still do not have any right to the name "Don the Beachcomber(R).
And that, my friends, is the story of that pretty little doomed building with the name Don the Beachcomber on its' side, at the Royal Lahaina Hotel. The restaurant at the "Royal Kona" is another, but related, story.
Mahalo,
Art Snyder, Managing Partner
Marisol llc, a Nevada limited liability company,
dba Don the Beachcomber Industries
and
TropicRum llc, a California limited liability company,
licensed as Don the Beachcomber, Surf City
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Art Snyder was part of the Los Angeles City Council for 26 years. He then returned to the practice of law for 15 years, then successfully entered the restaurant field with two restaurants in The Venetian Hotel, Spa, and Casino in Las Vegas. He sold thos
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Ojaitimo
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 04, 2006
Posts: 1283 | Posted: 2009-03-21 2:58 pm Permalink
Art,
Welcome to Tiki Central. I am looking forward to your new location in Las Vegas.
When are you planning on opening there?
The new DTB is going to look like the original Hollywood location?
Please tell us more. 
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