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Trader Vic's, Dallas, TX (restaurant) |
1961surf
Grand Member (3 years) 
Joined: May 03, 2007
Posts: 1896
From: Newport Beach, Ca .
|  Posted: 2010-01-12 12:08 pm Permalink
Sad situation.....sad...sad....sad !!
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bigbrotiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 25, 2002
Posts: 10599
From: Tiki Island, above the Silverlake
| Posted: 2010-01-12 12:23 pm Permalink
But it is a reality we have to face. I am sometimes wondering: It being obvious that the general public, especially in non-traditional Tiki states, is not aware of Tiki culture, and is lacking the contemporary context that once was there in the 50s and 60s, does it go beyond the fact that they do not have the "education" that it takes to understand the style, but do they actually feel alienated in an environment that they cannot place anywhere, that does not relate to the world they know? Does it actually make them feel "uncomfortable" because of that?
Why does this style that feels so cozy, so wonderfully entertaining and escapist to us, not create the same reaction in more members of the working public?
I realize that Trader Vic's prices are not conducive to this economic climate, and that location plays a large part in the popularity of a place, but there are pricey, off the beaten path restaurants that do not have to struggle even today. Another reality is that of the short-livedness of the restaurant industry, concepts get old VERY fast. Tradition does only count to a few in this country.
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DavidAfshar
Member
Joined: Jan 11, 2010
Posts: 7 | Posted: 2010-01-12 2:54 pm Permalink
Thanks for the welcome and thanks for clearing up some of my (mis)information. Boy, will the ups and downs with Trader Vic's Dallas ever stop? In the space of 24 hours I was freaked they would be ruining the location, relieved that they just had to do some minor repairs, and now...well, I'm not sure what to think. "Tropical Island Grill" huh? Sounds like perhaps the upscale retro swankiness will be gone???? Should I be expecting Luau burgers instead of Crispy Duck????
It's really too bad that TV's seem to think they have to redecorate (no matter how lightly). Of all of the people I've turned on to the place (the vast majority of whom would not know what a tiki is if it bit them you-know-where), the first thing they mention about the place is how cool it looks. Some have complained about the price-point, and at times the food was a bit off for others (though it has improved greatly), but I've never heard anyone complain about the vibe of the place. Not once.
I've never run a restaurant, so I have no leg to stand on, but it seems to me that TV Dallas just doesn't know what to do with themselves. It seems every other week they're changing something around. Perhaps the renovations will not be as extensive as I (and I'm sure all of you) fear and this "Tropical Island Grill" concept will be the thing that sticks and keeps this great time capsule of a location alive for years to come. I'm hopeful--but God! they're giving me an anxiety attack over this stuff! Maybe I just need to whip up some Mai Tais to take the edge off 
David
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Tiki Charlie
Grand Member (first year) 
Joined: Nov 13, 2006
Posts: 6
From: Dallas TX
| Posted: 2010-01-12 6:24 pm Permalink
THANK YOU for posting all the Dallas Trader Vic's shots. So glad we could all meet on New Year's Eve and bring in 2010.
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drasticwagon
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Dec 27, 2008
Posts: 263
From: DFW , Texas
| Posted: 2010-01-14 04:52 am Permalink
Bummer, I went last Saturday and felt like I couldn't get into Disneyland. Was going to go back this weekend.... thanks for the heads up guys.
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bigbrotiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 25, 2002
Posts: 10599
From: Tiki Island, above the Silverlake
| Posted: 2010-01-14 08:11 am Permalink
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeiaA43eD_o
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Limbo Lizard
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 24, 2006
Posts: 605
From: Aboard the 'Leaky Tiki', Dallas
| Posted: 2010-01-15 10:41 am Permalink
I wonder if the "repairs and sprucing up" will include re-hanging those upside-down doors in the entry? 
(Image rotated )
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bigbrotiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 25, 2002
Posts: 10599
From: Tiki Island, above the Silverlake
| Posted: 2010-01-15 12:50 pm Permalink
Haaaa! I never knew that! With this, Dallas TV's joins other illustrious places in displaying upside down Tikis, like the Bali Hai and Sam's Seafood/Kona.
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Kenike
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jul 24, 2003
Posts: 1201
From: McKinney, TX
| Posted: 2010-01-16 2:28 pm Permalink
When they reopened in 2007, those doors were mounted to the wall. They are actually the third set of doors to go through to get in with the second set usually propped open. When the cold breeze became too much for people trying to eat/drink, they put the doors back up but upside-down. The tiki people noticed the mistake immediately but TV never bothered to fix it.
And I seriously doubt the "sprucing up" will include turning the doors...if no one cared for almost 3 years why would anyone care now? I say we volunteer to fix it ourselves...if they ever reopen.
_________________
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bigbrotiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 25, 2002
Posts: 10599
From: Tiki Island, above the Silverlake
| Posted: 2010-01-16 6:37 pm Permalink
Well we might just have the mystic answer to this location's up and dpwn fortunes here: Hanging an ancestor carving pointing DOWN is bad mojo! 
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Koitiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jul 03, 2007
Posts: 212
From: Austin
| Posted: 2010-01-19 6:20 pm Permalink
Online Dallas news article links to this thread:
http://www.pegasusnews.com/news/2010/jan/18/trader-vics-palomar-dallas-temporarily-closed-whil/
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Unkle John
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Oct 22, 2003
Posts: 1216
From: Middle-of-the-Ocean, TX
| Posted: 2010-01-20 07:56 am Permalink
I left my comment.
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tikiarch
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Mar 01, 2007
Posts: 13 | Posted: 2010-01-22 6:17 pm Permalink
On 2010-01-12 12:23, bigbrotiki wrote:
... but do they actually feel alienated in an environment that they cannot place anywhere, that does not relate to the world they know? Does it actually make them feel "uncomfortable" because of that?
Why does this style that feels so cozy, so wonderfully entertaining and escapist to us, not create the same reaction in more members of the working public?
Thanks bigbro - been thinking lots about this lately. I dont think they feel alienated, I think it's more about the price point and upscale/formal service. I think people feel more at home in the bar where there are no tablecloths and they feel they can get more roudy. The space plan in Dallas is very segragated with no energy from the bar spilling into the dining area. This i feel is also a big problem.
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tikiarch
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Mar 01, 2007
Posts: 13 | Posted: 2010-01-22 6:26 pm Permalink
oh - and regarding the upside down entry doors. this happened because codes have changed and the doors previously swung in. When we removed them and mounted them fixed I believe they were correct. When they rehung them due to the cold winds, they would have needed a carpenter to rework the mortise for the hinges so they could open out as required for fire codes. just my educated guess. (and probably the waiter they told to do it didnt even realize they were upside down).
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Kenike
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jul 24, 2003
Posts: 1201
From: McKinney, TX
| Posted: 2010-01-22 10:22 pm Permalink
Quote:
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On 2010-01-22 18:26, tikiarch wrote:
oh - and regarding the upside down entry doors. this happened because codes have changed and the doors previously swung in. When we removed them and mounted them fixed I believe they were correct. When they rehung them due to the cold winds, they would have needed a carpenter to rework the mortise for the hinges so they could open out as required for fire codes. just my educated guess. (and probably the waiter they told to do it didnt even realize they were upside down).
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Makes sense, Tikiarch. Not being up to code never even occurred to me.
[ This Message was edited by: Kenike 2010-01-23 12:02 ]
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