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McMenamin's in Tacoma, WA |
beadtiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 24, 2007
Posts: 929
From: Bothell, Washington
|  Posted: 2010-07-16 2:00 pm Permalink
I just heard this morning that McMenamin's has purchased an old Elk's Club building in Tacoma, WA and is renovating it into one of their entertainment establishments, I don't think there is going to be a hotel in that one, but apparently they're puting in a "Tiki Bar." I've never been to one of their establishments so I don't know if they're any good or not or if they'll do a Buffett-style Tiki Bar or go for the real deal?! Anyone know anything about them?
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sputnikmoss
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jan 04, 2007
Posts: 286
From: Portland OR
| Posted: 2010-07-16 2:31 pm Permalink
A tiki bar! That will be a stretch from their usual. I wouldn't expect Buffet style at all. They tend to take cues from the buildings themselves and create themes based on their former uses. But they have a very distinct art style and you can always tell you are in one of their establishments. I can't wait to see what they come up with. Here is a link with photos of their places so you can get a little idea of what they look like.
http://www.mcmenamins.com/
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Sophista-tiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Sep 13, 2005
Posts: 1889
From: Seattle WA
| Posted: 2010-07-16 2:37 pm Permalink
If McMinamins did tiki it probably would be smug frat boy creepy
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beadtiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 24, 2007
Posts: 929
From: Bothell, Washington
| Posted: 2010-07-16 3:21 pm Permalink
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On 2010-07-16 14:37, Sophista-tiki wrote:
If McMinamins did tiki it probably would be smug frat boy creepy
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That's what I'm afraid of. No reason to travel all the way to the Aroma of Tacoma if that's the case!
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woofmutt
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 26, 2002
Posts: 2636
From: Seattilite Telstar
| Posted: 2010-07-16 3:45 pm Permalink
"If McMinamins did tiki it probably would be smug frat boy creepy"
All the McMenamins I've been in have been authentic feeling places full of ordinary folks of all ages. The staff in the Portland ones have always been nice. McMenamins beer is good (I brought a growler of one summer brew back from Portland years ago and my friend Sparky still goes on about it) and McMenamins Penney's Gin is good, too.
McMenamins took over the Spar in Olympia and you'd never guess it was part of a chain.
I heard about the Tacoma Elks lodge deal a while back but nothing about a Tiki bar. A Tiki bar doesn't seem like a typical McMenamins establishment, they tend to be more like neighborhood joints. I would guess if they're doing a Tiki bar it wouldn't be a Tiki Bob's type mess. It could be really swell.
Tacoma Elks Lodge
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Sophista-tiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Sep 13, 2005
Posts: 1889
From: Seattle WA
| Posted: 2010-07-16 5:10 pm Permalink
that sound encouraging and nothing like the McMinamins experiences ive had, Guess I havent been to the right ones.
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beadtiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 24, 2007
Posts: 929
From: Bothell, Washington
| Posted: 2010-07-16 10:08 pm Permalink
Apparently that Tacoma one is supposed to have a pub, dining, dancing and the Tiki bar. Okay, one of you South-Enders is gonna have to check it out (you're closer!) when it finally opens. OR we could all take pilgrimage and check it out together! That building is pretty square but it's really neat looking. LOTS of potential.
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woofmutt
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 26, 2002
Posts: 2636
From: Seattilite Telstar
| Posted: 2010-07-16 10:48 pm Permalink
What we ought to do is write McMenamins and suggest the not only do research on Tiki Central but register and solicit input.
Don't be afraid of Tacoma, it's a really cool place. Lots of interesting shops and none of the Seattle attitude. Also unlike Seattle they haven't torn down pert near every scrap of historic architecture. In Seattle the Elk's Lodge would have been flattened for another glass and brushed aluminum condo tower. (Studios starting from the low $200s!)
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beadtiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 24, 2007
Posts: 929
From: Bothell, Washington
| Posted: 2010-07-17 1:47 pm Permalink
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On 2010-07-16 22:48, woofmutt wrote:
What we ought to do is write McMenamins and suggest the not only do research on Tiki Central but register and solicit input.
Don't be afraid of Tacoma, it's a really cool place. Lots of interesting shops and none of the Seattle attitude. Also unlike Seattle they haven't torn down pert near every scrap of historic architecture. In Seattle the Elk's Lodge would have been flattened for another glass and brushed aluminum condo tower. (Studios starting from the low $200s!)
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No kidding! Seattle is so homogenized now it's unbearable. I weep whenever I see those public channel shows about "historic Seattle" - can you believe there was an indoor swimming pool/ice rink in the heart of the city at one time?!
I will venture down to T-town some day and check it out - it's just such a jaunt (I could double it with a bead excursion!).
And you're right - we SHOULD get McM's to do some research on here. Maybe I'll email them the address with a suggestion. Hey, if they do "authentic" where else will they get the input?
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beadtiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 24, 2007
Posts: 929
From: Bothell, Washington
| Posted: 2010-07-17 2:02 pm Permalink
Okay - I did it! I sent them the URL for TC. I hope they at least take a look. Let's hope 'cause we could REALLY use an authentic-ish Tiki bar around here!
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MadDogMike
Grand Member (7 years) 
Joined: Mar 30, 2008
Posts: 8211
From: The Anvil of the Sun
| Posted: 2010-07-17 2:14 pm Permalink
That's kinda cool, looks like the buy historical properties and convert them into hotels and bars but leaving the architecture of the buildings intact.
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beadtiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 24, 2007
Posts: 929
From: Bothell, Washington
| Posted: 2010-07-17 3:28 pm Permalink
Yeah - they're converting an old schoolhouse near where I live as well - no tiki bar though 
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bigbrotiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 25, 2002
Posts: 11550
From: Tiki Island, above the Silverlake
| Posted: 2010-07-18 1:24 pm Permalink
When contacting them, let's stress the fact that Tiki culture really is part of the Puget Sound area's history. Seattle, with its connection to Hawaii, Tacoma and the Navy town of Bremerton all had a slew of Tiki establishments and apartment complexes.
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dangergirl299
Grand Member (first year) 
Joined: Feb 18, 2003
Posts: 893
From: Bay Area
| Posted: 2010-07-18 2:56 pm Permalink
McMenamin's is great!
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beadtiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 24, 2007
Posts: 929
From: Bothell, Washington
| Posted: 2010-07-18 7:54 pm Permalink
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On 2010-07-18 13:24, bigbrotiki wrote:
When contacting them, let's stress the fact that Tiki culture really is part of the Puget Sound area's history. Seattle, with its connection to Hawaii, Tacoma and the Navy town of Bremerton all had a slew of Tiki establishments and apartment complexes.
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I already sent them the link to TC so you may want to follow up with your own thoughts about the connection - I didn't think about that aspect.
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