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MAI KAI LOUNGE Tecumseh MI. (image heavy), Tecumseh, MI (restaurant) |
Mr. Moai
Member
Joined: Jan 03, 2008
Posts: 2 |  Posted: 2008-01-03 12:01 pm Permalink
Hi Everyone-
My girlfriend and I visited the Mai Kai @ The Tecumseh Inn for the first time last night. We moved to town about 6 months ago and had no idea we lived so close to such a groovy tiki oasis. Then we saw the beautiful pictures posted on this board, and we knew we had to check it out for ourselves.
We were not disappointed--the decor is simply awesome. The drink menu at the Mai Kai Lounge is limited (Bud, Bud Light, Michelob, & some common liquors), but it's such an amazing room that we didn't care. If any adventurous tiki-philes are still interested in visiting the place sometime, send us an email and we will meet you for a drink!
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uncle trav
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 27, 2005
Posts: 2218
From: Kalamazoo
| Posted: 2008-01-03 1:01 pm Permalink
Aloha! and welcome to TC Mr. Moai. Thanks for the review. I haven't been back since I took the pic's awhile ago. Good to see some folks are enjoying the Mai Kai.
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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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uncle trav
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 27, 2005
Posts: 2218
From: Kalamazoo
| Posted: 2008-11-05 4:36 pm Permalink
Well it's nearly a year ago that I visited the Mai Kai to document it for this post. I just read on the website that the lounge is "temporarily closed". I feared the worst !. I did some checking and all is well. The motel has been sold to a new owner and they are waiting for the liquor license to change hands. As soon as this is done the lounge will reopen. Good news for us up north folks. When it reopens stop by and support one of our last classic Tiki spots. 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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Swanky
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 03, 2002
Posts: 5270
From: Hapa Haole Hideaway, TN
| Posted: 2008-11-06 4:29 pm Permalink
Did I miss this from before? Man, I love it! Would love to wander into such a great place. Thanks for the pics. It's what dreams are made of.
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"Mai-Kai: History & Mystery of the Iconic Tiki Restaurant" the book
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uncle trav
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 27, 2005
Posts: 2218
From: Kalamazoo
| Posted: 2009-01-25 04:21 am Permalink
Just thought I would give another update. The Mai Kai is still closed for renovations but will open again. The best part is that the tikis stay! The ownership told me they have had many offers to purchase the interior items but the are not for sale. Good to hear they will stay as they have for nearly forty years. I am still looking for some more history for the lounge. A big thank you for the owners for keeping the lounge intact. I hope to post some more pics when they reopen. 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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Chub
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jan 26, 2005
Posts: 264
From: Detroit, MI but now in sunny Los Angeles
| Posted: 2009-09-13 12:17 pm Permalink
Anyone have any updates on this place. I want to go while I'm out here if it's still open. Guess I'll just give them a call. Will keep you posted.
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Chub
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jan 26, 2005
Posts: 264
From: Detroit, MI but now in sunny Los Angeles
| Posted: 2009-09-13 12:23 pm Permalink
Well that was easy...I just called them and they are still waiting for the liquor license to change over. So it's not open for business, but they said they'd be happy to have me come in and check the place out if I like.
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uncle trav
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 27, 2005
Posts: 2218
From: Kalamazoo
| Posted: 2009-09-13 3:54 pm Permalink
Good to hear your in your old hunting grounds Chub. If you do make it to the Mai Kai please take some more pics. Been waiting a long time for them to reopen and I hope it has been kept original.
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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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bigbrotiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 25, 2002
Posts: 11581
From: Tiki Island, above the Silverlake
| Posted: 2009-09-13 10:55 pm Permalink
Yeah, renovation always sounds scary. The Tikis are only one element here, but what about the cool modernist exterior, and the lamps, and the Tapa bar top, and all those other time-warp details.
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uncle trav
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 27, 2005
Posts: 2218
From: Kalamazoo
| Posted: 2009-09-14 05:49 am Permalink
[quote]
On 2009-09-13 22:55, bigbrotiki wrote:
Yeah, renovation always sounds scary.
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The amazing thing is that this bar is still there at all. This is the third owner of the motel and the bar has survived. I have only had contact with the new owner via e-mail but he has stated that the original decor will stay. As I said before he has had many offers from folks to sell the items but has said no to all offers. I have not been able to get down there to do a field trip but maybe Chub will have a report from the front.
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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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uncle trav
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 27, 2005
Posts: 2218
From: Kalamazoo
| Posted: 2010-05-26 04:12 am Permalink
The Mai Kai Lounge is still closed. I can only hope now that the bar will open soon. I believe the problem is with obtaining a liquor license but don't quote me on that. As of my last contact with the motel the contents remain and will be there when it opens again. As luck would have it all three owners of the motel, past and present have had the foresight to keep the bar intact. I hope they hold true to that view.
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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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Slacks Ferret
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Oct 02, 2003
Posts: 1318
From: Calgary
| Posted: 2011-04-11 11:49 am Permalink
I hope it's re-opened by now?...
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Mr. Ho
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Oct 09, 2005
Posts: 460
From: Boston, MA
| Posted: 2013-01-26 12:31 pm Permalink
I am going on tour with Cordis (www.cordismusic.com) and will be in Monroe, MI next week - not too far from this place, but is it OPEN? 
Mr. Ho
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Esquivel Big Band & Global Jazz and Exotic Chamber Music Quintet
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uncle trav
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 27, 2005
Posts: 2218
From: Kalamazoo
| Posted: 2013-01-28 2:21 pm Permalink
Wow! Just over five years since I first posted this place. If I remember right I called them last year and they were still closed.
_________________
"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: 2218
From: Kalamazoo
| Posted: 2013-07-04 05:06 am Permalink
The Mai Kai Lounge is once again open at the motel. I have not been back to the location since my first archaeological trip. Apparently is has been reopened as the breakfast bar for the motel guest. I can find only one photo but it doesn't look good. It looks like elements of the original decor are gone and those elements are what made the place rare in this day and age. New murals have been painted on the walls and the old plastic jungle on the back wall as well as the bead curtain wall behind the hanging chairs is gone as well. The large Tiki in the middle of the group of round booth appears gone to. As far as I can tell the Witco stools are still intact. Sad sad sad indeed.
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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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