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MAI KAI LOUNGE- Tecumseh MI. (image heavy), Tecumseh, MI (restaurant) |
uncle trav
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 27, 2005
Posts: 1531
From: Kalamazoo
|  Posted: 2007-11-10 3:38 pm Permalink
Name:MAI KAI LOUNGE- Tecumseh MI. (image heavy)
Type:lounge
Street:1445 W Chicago Blvd.
City:Tecumseh
State:MI
Zip:49286
country:USA
Phone:517-423-7401
Status:operational
Description:
Let me start by thanking the owner Tom for letting us in to take photos before business hours. The Mai Kai Lounge is located in the Tecumseh Inn. Just behind the checkout counter in the front lobby a small sign above the door leads into a tiki time machine. Opened around 1971 the lounge has remained intact for nearly 35 years. A credit to the present owner, when the motel was purchased from the original owner the lounge was left unchanged to this day.TRT 2nd edition description states quote "there isn't a tiki in site" we counted 12. Ten original Witco tiki bar stools and two floor to ceiling tikis. Stick with me as I try to get the pics posted.
The low mood lighting is just right. Check out the hanging bamboo chairs.
Gotta love this. Two hanging bamboo chairs with orange leather. An original OA lamp hangs above a small cocktail table with a Formica tapa print. Behind the chairs is a hanging curtain of beads.
Some photos are taken with the flash as the lighting is so low. The mood was perfect. Only the sound of a small fountain running.
Ten!!! Original Witco bar stools bolted to the floor. They could use a little TLC but when was the last time you came into a place with ten clasic stools
Right now I have to grab a beverage so I'll post more pics shortly.
[ This Message was edited by: uncle trav 2007-11-10 16:04 ]
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Kabuddhabuddha
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Jun 20, 2007
Posts: 39
From: Sunny Southwest Florida
| Posted: 2007-11-10 4:16 pm Permalink
OMG, OMG, OMGGGGGGGGGGGGDDDDDDDDDD, I see my barstool now. After a night down in the marvelous Hukilau lounge, Uncle Trav we have a date for a road trip to 1971. Can't wait to see it in person, and more pictures that you took. Post More, Post More.
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Hey, Uncle Trav. Wanna wax my Witco?
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uncle trav
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 27, 2005
Posts: 1531
From: Kalamazoo
| Posted: 2007-11-10 4:52 pm Permalink
O.K. back with my beverage and on to some more pics. This is one of the tall tikis surrounded by classic plastic
If I remember right there were five round booths of different colors. Each had a tapa table and bamboo curtains that can be closed to give you that hidden in the jungle feeling.
Cool carved coat rack
Another booth with a big tiki behind it
On to the bar. This is a little fuzzy but you can see the tapa print on the bar and the OA float lights
This is the back bar. Note the modern design in the center. There a a bunch of carved coco nut figures hanging above the bar the whole length. The large mirrors give the illusion that the lounge is larger than is actually is.
_________________
"Anyone who has ever seen them is thereafter haunted as if by a feverish dream" Karl Woermann
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uncle trav
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 27, 2005
Posts: 1531
From: Kalamazoo
| Posted: 2007-11-10 5:28 pm Permalink
A close up of the OA lamp
The orange booth, my favorite
The seafoam booth. The plastic bamboo forest with lights on the wall is the coolest. this pic was taken with the flash in person this looks fantastic. Check out the astro-turf on the back of the booth.
The other tall tiki
A small cocktail table with two bamboo chairs just opposite of the hanging chairs
The bar from another angle. A little fuzzy
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uncle trav
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 27, 2005
Posts: 1531
From: Kalamazoo
| Posted: 2007-11-10 6:32 pm Permalink
here's a line shot of the Witco stools
A lone PM mug behind the bar with a coconut mug
A cool modern design Incorporated into the front door and the rest room doors
Some exterior shots of the lobby and entrance to the lounge. DAMN I LOVE THIS STUFF !!
Three weathered OA bamboo lamps above the outside entrance to the lounge
A close-up of one of the exterior lights
A shot of the front of the building facing the main drag
The Inn sign
Folks this is as close to classic tiki in Michigan that I can think of.The lounge is on the small side but it is unchanged from the past. Round booths with bamboo curtains, hanging bamboo chairs, Tapa print bar and tables, A fountain with fish, Witco, Tikis, Fish float lamps. The bar serves standard cocktails. The staff was very friendly. The motel has 61 rooms and a ton of antique stores are nearby. A real piece of tiki history that has out lasted many others and the owner should be commended for that. Thanks
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"Anyone who has ever seen them is thereafter haunted as if by a feverish dream" Karl Woermann
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Kabuddhabuddha
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Jun 20, 2007
Posts: 39
From: Sunny Southwest Florida
| Posted: 2007-11-10 6:48 pm Permalink
WOW is about all I can say there Uncle Trav. Did you go back in time to take those pictures or what? Looks like the place is brand new. I can't believe the shape of the vinyl and love the astro turf. So what were the bathrooms like? Keep up the good work finding the lost treasures we so love.
_________________
Hey, Uncle Trav. Wanna wax my Witco?
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Chub
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jan 26, 2005
Posts: 258
From: Detroit, MI but now in sunny Los Angeles
| Posted: 2007-11-10 8:01 pm Permalink
Very nice! I can't believe I never went to see this place in the 31 years I lived in Michigan.
Maybe next time I fly home to visit the folks, I'll stop by for a drink or two.
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aloha.taboo
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jan 08, 2006
Posts: 169
From: Grand Rapids, MI
| Posted: 2007-11-10 8:57 pm Permalink
AMAZING!
I've got to make a road trip over to that side of the state!
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Jeff Central
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jul 23, 2002
Posts: 1528
From: Columbus, Ohio
| Posted: 2007-11-11 02:54 am Permalink
Incredible Tiki Archeaology uncle trav!!!!!
Thanks for posting another "lost" Tiki Bar!!! 
Cheers and Mahalo,
Jeff
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bamboobeavis
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Apr 20, 2007
Posts: 12
From: Athens, MI
| Posted: 2007-11-11 06:46 am Permalink
A vintage tiki bar in my own back yard (well, the same state anyway)!
That place looks just like everything I've ever read.
Thanks for finding that hidden treasure Uncle Trav.
Definitely special thanks to the owner for not changing the bar
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tikiskip
Grand Member (6 years) 
Joined: Nov 26, 2005
Posts: 2085 | Posted: 2007-11-11 06:48 am Permalink
Those exterior lights are Eames era ottomans.
Made into lights.
Cool place.
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tikiskip
Grand Member (6 years)
Joined: Nov 26, 2005
Posts: 2085 | Posted: 2007-11-11 06:59 am Permalink
See like this.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Vtg-Round-Rattan-Mid-Century-MODERN-Eamesian-Ottoman_W0QQitemZ200170856521QQihZ010QQcategoryZ156953QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
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uncle trav
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 27, 2005
Posts: 1531
From: Kalamazoo
| Posted: 2007-11-11 07:23 am Permalink
Thanks for all the feedback! Nothing better than a weekend Tiki expedition. Thanks for the heads up on the exterior lights Skip. You are the "Rattan Man". I hope to get back to the lounge for a drink before to long. Thanks again.
_________________
"Anyone who has ever seen them is thereafter haunted as if by a feverish dream" Karl Woermann
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Tipsy McStagger
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 21, 2004
Posts: 3388
From: HELL
| Posted: 2007-11-11 08:21 am Permalink
Quote:
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.TRT 2nd edition description states quote "there isn't a tiki in site" we counted 12. Ten original Witco tiki bar stools and two floor to ceiling tikis.
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..maybe he wanted to keep the place secret from other tikiphiles.... there is already one huge scumbag here on tiki central guilty of doing exactly this sort of thing for his own greedy purposes....
though it's never been tikibars style or m.o. to withhold info as far as i know....i'm sure there is a good explanation about why the tecumseh lounge was misrepresented in his latest book......
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uncle trav
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 27, 2005
Posts: 1531
From: Kalamazoo
| Posted: 2007-11-11 09:07 am Permalink
My main reason for the quote was meant as an update to the the review in TRT 2. The good thing is we all have a classic Tiki lounge to be enjoyed by everyone on TC.
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"Anyone who has ever seen them is thereafter haunted as if by a feverish dream" Karl Woermann
[ This Message was edited by: uncle trav 2007-11-11 09:23 ]
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