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Trader Vic's Downtown Los Angeles!, Los Angeles, CA (restaurant) |
bigbrotiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 25, 2002
Posts: 10599
From: Tiki Island, above the Silverlake
|  Posted: 2009-01-13 09:17 am Permalink
Quote:
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On 2009-01-12 22:41, RevBambooBen wrote:
I heard Sven's Team is from Cal-Asia and not using OA as of yet...
I wish them all the best.
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I don't have a team. No one works for me, and I work for no one --I have but one master, and I aim to serve him faithfully: TIKI ! 
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bigbrotiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 25, 2002
Posts: 10599
From: Tiki Island, above the Silverlake
| Posted: 2009-01-13 1:21 pm Permalink
Just to clarify: Many L.A. Tiki community members and TCers have had the opportunity to meet and talk to John Valencia, the owner of the new L.A. Trader Vic's, at various classic places like the Tiki Ti, the Tonga Hut, and Damon's. John has been exceptionally interested and open towards the Tiki community, and his attention to Tiki detail and tradition has impressed many of us.
So I was very happy to, beginning in the last year, oblige John with some advice regarding the decor of this downtown Trader island. So far, although my work has in no small part aided the resurgence of interest in Trader Vic's franchises, the T.V. company had steered clear of seeking my expertise. So I was very careful to offer only my opinion, not my "demands". John ran by me several possible pieces from the Trader Vic warehouse, which as we all know has been denuded of most classic Tikis in last year's sale. I was able to warn him of the high "Poly-Asian" content in some of those remaining carvings, and give my opinion on various other decor objects. The final decision always rested with him, of course.
I recommended the use of American carvers over the Trader Vic Co. outsources in Asia, but it seems I was only partially successful. As a businessman, John Valencia has the last word on where the investors' money is spent, and so some of the interior Tikis will be Asian-made (this and the fact that the build out will be done by an Asian company is what Ben was referring to)--hopefully though, after I provided John with some traditional Oceanic Art examples, they will be less buddhist and more authentic Polynesian. The good news is that the three large exterior Tikis will be carved by Danny Gallardo aka Tiki Diablo, and that one, the tallest, will resemble the classic De Young Trader Vic's logo Tiki. I am very happy that my expertise could make a difference here, and will continue to offer it as the project progresses.
[ This Message was edited by: bigbrotiki 2009-01-14 10:27 ]
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Dustycajun
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 16, 2007
Posts: 3946
From: Santa Barbara, CA
| Posted: 2009-01-13 5:50 pm Permalink
Sven,
Good to hear that you are on the job and that the TV administration is entertaining your input.
DC
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bigtikidude
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 10, 2004
Posts: 8312
From: Anaheim,Ca.
| Posted: 2009-01-14 01:02 am Permalink
Very Cool Sven,
now if we can advise John to get some of the Older Asain Guys.
Alfee for sure from the old Beverly Hills TV's over there, that would be great.
I have talked to a few people that got drinks at The Vegas Vics, and I have had a few at the TV's Lounge in BH that were not up to par.
for me the drinks is just as important as the decor.
I don't mind paying 15 bucks for a Navy Grog , if after 2 I can't feel my feet, and my head is tingling.
so here's to a New start for Vics' in LA.
and where and when do we sign up for Reservations?
Jeff(bigtikidude)
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bigbrotiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 25, 2002
Posts: 10599
From: Tiki Island, above the Silverlake
| Posted: 2009-01-14 10:23 am Permalink
This just in: Mea culpa, I was just going by the name, but Cal-Asia is actually and American owned company. Shows what I know. Not that that matters anyway.
I just want to say that no one here can imagine the behind the scenes work it takes to put such a business up these days. It's not like it used to be, where gas torches and raffia awnings and waterfalls and all that stuff was just plopped in there no questions asked, and smog regulations for Chinese ovens did not exist. The hoops to jump through and compromises to be made are a real challenge, and I commend John for fighting to get everything as close as possible to the way we, and he, would want the place to be. I can say that much, it will NOT just feel like another "franchise".
As for the veteran Beverly Hills bartenders, according to my info, they are still employed by the Hilton, with all its benefits, but John is trying to get them for guest appearances. Yet I see no reason to worry about the level of cocktail quality, there will be a well trained cadre of international mixologists manning the bar.
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RevBambooBen
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 12, 2002
Posts: 7217
From: Huntikington Beach
| Posted: 2009-01-14 10:34 pm Permalink
Quote:
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On 2009-01-14 10:23, bigbrotiki wrote:
It's not like it used to be, where gas torches and raffia awnings and waterfalls and all that stuff was just plopped in there no questions asked,
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Cheers!
I think "we" hit this point in here somewhere....
http://www.tikiroom.com/tikicentral/bb/viewtopic.php?topic=27025&forum=1&259
I wish TVLA all the best luck and hopefully they
can change things (laws) up a bit!
_________________
Bamboo Ben
Custom Tropical Decor
I build Fun for you!
http://www.facebook.com/bambooben
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Coco Joe
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Sep 27, 2008
Posts: 721
From: Los Angeles
| Posted: 2009-01-21 12:15 am Permalink
Trader John,
I've heard that older vic's have had a some sort of a secret drink menu sort of like In 'n' Out behind the bar. Not sure what sort of bartender staff you have lined up but any chance of being able to get some classic T.V. drinks not listed on the menu?
Regards,
Joe
_________________
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TraderJohn
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Mar 20, 2008
Posts: 86
From: Los Feliz
| Posted: 2009-01-21 5:14 pm Permalink
I will look into it, Thanks for the info.
http://www.myspace.com/tradervicslosangeles
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TraderJohn
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Mar 20, 2008
Posts: 86
From: Los Feliz
| Posted: 2009-02-14 10:12 am Permalink
Enjoy!!!
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Coco Joe
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Sep 27, 2008
Posts: 721
From: Los Angeles
| Posted: 2009-02-14 10:15 am Permalink
hurry the hell up and open!
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RevBambooBen
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 12, 2002
Posts: 7217
From: Huntikington Beach
| Posted: 2009-02-14 10:37 pm Permalink
Are you still ON for March 15th??
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Tipsy McStagger
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 21, 2004
Posts: 3394
From: HELL
| Posted: 2009-02-15 06:57 am Permalink
that location looks familiar...was there a restuarant in that space previously?? what was it called?
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robtikiti
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Nov 10, 2008
Posts: 22 | Posted: 2009-02-15 9:56 pm Permalink
Short post on the LA Times food blog:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/dailydish/2009/02/trader-vics-la.html
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re. Tipsy's "that location looks familiar...was there a restaurant in that space previously?? what was it called?"
It's part of the new LA Live complex, just north of the Staples Center. That view is the north side of the complex, on the south side of Olympic Blvd., just east of Figueroa St.
One fear about this location, I visited the new Lucky Strike bowling alley at LA Live a few months back. Luckily I was a guest for the grand opening, otherwise I would have had to drop $25 to park in the LA Live parking. This may get people out of their cars and into public transpo.
My other problem with the location is along the lines of Tipsy's query, which is that it looks like this could have been a Koo Koo Roo location a few months ago and will be a Subway sandwich joint next. It's just a crappy looking store front.
My two cents.
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bigbrotiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 25, 2002
Posts: 10599
From: Tiki Island, above the Silverlake
| Posted: 2009-02-16 10:20 am Permalink
Regarding the parking, there will be cheaper (even validated?) parking right across the street. To charge that amount of money, In this economy, is ridiculous, I hope the LA Life owner is not digging his own grave.
And that front will certainly not remain looking that bare, that looks like a Blockbuster Video store. Trader John was merely proudly displaying the new sign, which is nice. There will be an awning, plants, some bamboo, and most importantly, an entrance flanked by two Tiki Diablo Tikis.
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Joe Banks
Grand Member (4 years) 
Joined: Aug 02, 2007
Posts: 524
From: Hollywoodland
| Posted: 2009-02-16 10:56 am Permalink
Quote:
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On 2009-02-14 22:37, RevBambooBen wrote:
Are you still ON for March 15th??
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April 15th...I'm told.
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