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Trader Vic's ~ Bellevue Washington |
dogbytes
Grand Member (8 years) 
Joined: Mar 24, 2002
Posts: 2240
From: seattle, wa
|  Posted: 2005-06-15 07:46 am Permalink
Seattle Times
ohholycow! i had no idea this was in the works!
Taste of the Town
A Bellevue Trader Vic's
By Nancy Leson
Seattle Times restaurant critic
I thought my neighbors Tom and Barb Robinson were the only Trader Vic's-ionados willing to travel the globe for a Tiki Tiki Puka. They've been crying into their pupu platters — eaten elsewhere, unfortunately — since "Trader Vic" Bergeron's Polynesian palace closed in Seattle's Westin hotel back in 1991. So, as it turns out, have Werner and Rosanne Sondheim of Bellevue.
Like the Robinsons, they've traveled to "The Trader's" in Europe and made pilgrimages to Trader Vic's in Emeryville, Calif. — where the company got its start in 1938. And they, too, have fond memories of Trader Vic's original Seattle site (née "The Outrigger" in the Benjamin Franklin Hotel, later razed to make way for the Westin's second tower, where Trader Vic's relocated). It was there that the Sondheims were engaged in 1955. Which helps explain the emotional attachment and why Werner called to say he'd heard Trader Vic's was coming back to town — truth or rumor?
Well, hold on to your mai tais, my friends, because Trader Vic's, now a $50 million empire of company-owned and franchised restaurants, is slated to open late this year in the Lincoln Square complex in Bellevue.
"Many prominent citizens of Seattle and Bellevue who knew Trader Vic's from way, way back are investing in the project," notes Hans Richter, president and CEO of Trader Vic's, who has been with the company since 1969 and still has the blueprint of The Outrigger's kitchen layout ("It cost about 10 percent of what a kitchen costs today!").
"Ours is a little different from the normal franchise," Richter explained. "We stay involved, building the restaurant and assisting the owners in developing the management team and training restaurant personnel."
Among the faces behind this new version of the old favorite are local restaurateur Larry Hamlin (who helped find the $3.5 million to get the job done) and restaurant consultant Arnold Shain. Paul Reder, owner of Bellevue's Tap House Grill (550 106th Ave. N.E., 425-467-1730), is on tap as managing partner, says Richter.
Bellevue's new Trader Vic's will have the distinctive look of Trader Vic's everywhere, Richter says — right down to the "famous" Chinese oven.
And making certain that longtime patrons like the Robinsons and the Sondheims will feel doubly at home, he points out that the Bellevue restaurant will hold a prominent place in Lincoln Square: directly opposite the entrance to a new 337-room Westin hotel.
[ This Message was edited by: dogbytes on 2005-06-15 07:48 ]
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tikibars
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 11, 2002
Posts: 2014
From: Aku Hall, Chicago
| Posted: 2005-06-15 07:50 am Permalink
Quote:
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On 2005-06-15 07:46, dogbytes wrote:
I thought my neighbors Tom and Barb Robinson were the only Trader Vic's-ionados willing to travel the globe for a Tiki Tiki Puka.
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Wrong!
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Crowntiki
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Nov 23, 2004
Posts: 23
From: Crowntown, USA
| Posted: 2005-06-15 09:45 am Permalink
Thank broofness the Trader Vic's expansion continues. Don't know if this has been discussed, but here is a link: http://dallas.bizjournals.com/dallas/stories/2005/05/30/story6.html ... to the Dallas Business Journal that says Trader Vic's Dallas reopens in June 2006 in the Hotel Palomar and a deal is officially signed to open in Las Vegas...
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Maori_man
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 23, 2003
Posts: 190
From: Portland, Oregon
| Posted: 2005-06-15 4:47 pm Permalink
Well Shit on a shingle! Another reason to travel north other then just to visit the IKEA! And a hell of a lot closer then Emeryville to me!!!
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Rum Balls
Grand Member (7 years) 
Joined: Oct 04, 2004
Posts: 828
From: Portland, OR
| Posted: 2005-06-15 7:16 pm Permalink
Me thinks we should charter a bus from Portland!
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Kenike
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jul 24, 2003
Posts: 1201
From: McKinney, TX
| Posted: 2005-06-15 7:29 pm Permalink
http://dallas.bizjournals.com/dallas/stories/2005/05/30/story6.html
YYEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Pepe le Tiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: May 09, 2005
Posts: 325
From: Vancouver, BC
| Posted: 2005-06-18 4:17 pm Permalink
Great news!!! A Trader Vic's so close!!!!
Hopefully they'll keep moving north for a Vancouver reincarnation too!
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Pepe le Tiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: May 09, 2005
Posts: 325
From: Vancouver, BC
| Posted: 2005-08-24 4:51 pm Permalink
Hey TC Seattlites, any new news on the opening? I've heard November and January as potentials but I'm wondering if you've heard anything definite yet.
(I really want to put a giant 'X' on my calendar!!)
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Vic'sChicagoFan
Member
Joined: Aug 18, 2005
Posts: 2 | Posted: 2005-08-24 7:38 pm Permalink
You should expect late spring 2006 according to my sources. It's going to be great!
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bigbrotiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 25, 2002
Posts: 10557
From: Tiki Island, above the Silverlake
| Posted: 2005-08-25 05:03 am Permalink
Wonder when I'll get my kick-back for all this... 
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dogbytes
Grand Member (8 years)
Joined: Mar 24, 2002
Posts: 2240
From: seattle, wa
| Posted: 2005-10-27 2:46 pm Permalink
update from the seattle times
"When last we discussed Lincoln Square, the big news was that downtown Bellevue's happening high-rise development was to include a Trader Vic's, slated to open in December. The Trader's ETA has now been pushed by a coupla-few months (think: late Feb, early March)"
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woofmutt
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 26, 2002
Posts: 2584
From: Seattilite Telstar
| Posted: 2005-10-27 7:20 pm Permalink
It'll be pushed back a few more times then we'll hear how TV's is pulling out then a new press release: Margaritaville To Open In Slated Trader Vic's Location.
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Rum Balls
Grand Member (7 years)
Joined: Oct 04, 2004
Posts: 828
From: Portland, OR
| Posted: 2006-02-09 4:17 pm Permalink
TV Bellevue website up-and-running!
http://www.tradervicsbellevue.com/
I've timed my next visit to Seattle for a few weeks after the grand opening (but don't tell my brother that!)
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Tikiwahine
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 09, 2003
Posts: 3288
From: Ontario, Canada
| Posted: 2006-02-09 6:20 pm Permalink
ohmygodohmygodohmygod!
sorry, I'm a little excited!!!
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dogbytes
Grand Member (8 years)
Joined: Mar 24, 2002
Posts: 2240
From: seattle, wa
| Posted: 2006-02-20 10:36 am Permalink
FYI: TV Bellevue is taking reservations!! but they have some limitations.
1) the private dining rooms are not available till after April
2) the biggest table they have is for 8 in the main dining room, i tried for 2 tables of 8 at the same time, but there wasnt availability.
the staff is helpful (so far) they're trying to find space for us on March 25 ~ i get the feeling they dont want to overload the place at the beginning!
i'm so excited!!
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