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The Bahooka is closing their doors March 10th |
nichols
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Jul 03, 2003
Posts: 43 |  Posted: 2013-02-15 3:15 pm Permalink
I interviewed Ms. Schneider this afternoon. This building was on the market for one day. I asked her why she didn't reach out to the tiki community to find a new sympathetic owner but she didn't have an answer...
My story:
http://www.lamag.com/citythink/askchris/2013/02/15/bahooka-the-craziest-most-wonderful-tiki-restaurant-in-la-to-close
[ This Message was edited by: nichols 2013-02-15 15:15 ]
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swizzle
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jun 03, 2007
Posts: 638
From: Melbourne,Australia
| Posted: 2013-02-15 3:20 pm Permalink
Quote:
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On 2013-02-15 14:59, Big Kahuna wrote:
I'm so glad I got to visit Bahooka & so sad I can't be there to properly say goodbye. This is exactly why I've beem making pilgrimages to these places I love so much, even though they're 3000 miles away. I at least have memories, pictures & souvenirs, not just empty wishes that I had visited these places before they were gone. People, if you have not been to SoCal to experience the Tiki scene firsthand, you need to find a way. No excuses! Don't take for granted that these places will be there forever. Get out from behind you computers & experience life!!!!!!
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Spot on Big Kahuna. I'm 8000 miles away, in another country, and last year i took out a loan from the bank for this exact reason, to experience as many of the original Tiki bar establishments from Tikis heyday, before there was the chance that they might disappear.
Whilst the food and drinks we had left a lot to be desired, the venue was/is great and i was really well looked after by the manager when i was there. It's good to know that i got to see it once, but extremely sad knowing that it won't be there if i ever return.
P.S. I hope they find a good home for Rufus.
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Hale Tiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Oct 19, 2004
Posts: 1406
From: Pittsburgh
| Posted: 2013-02-15 3:38 pm Permalink
DAMMIT!
I DIDN'T EVEN GET TO GO!
This makes me eternally sad to lose another fantastic location before I could visit it. Checking flights now...
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BuzDeadwax
Grand Member (first year) 
Joined: Jun 07, 2012
Posts: 14
From: S.F., CA
| Posted: 2013-02-15 3:40 pm Permalink
I'll be in LA the 23-25th this month! I hope they're still in one piece until then!
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lunavideogames
Grand Member (first year)
Joined: May 09, 2012
Posts: 356
From: San Diego
| Posted: 2013-02-15 3:44 pm Permalink
Sad news while I am on vacation. I wish I could make it this weekend, but I will have to go this month for sure. Very sad that this historic place is going to be gone soon. Sucks.
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tikijackskeleton
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Dec 30, 2012
Posts: 34
From: Los Angeles
| Posted: 2013-02-15 4:00 pm Permalink
This is really sad news. Wow. that was the one place I went too a lot. Though I missed out on both the 40th anniversary mug and the other corral reef one. I do have Rufus... speaking of which, what is going to happen to all those fishes?
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sneakyjack
Tiki Socialite
Joined: May 25, 2004
Posts: 988
From: NYC Area
| Posted: 2013-02-15 4:23 pm Permalink
sucky
what about Pacu?
the big fishy guy?
have a handgrenade with pin pulled for me!!
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Tipsy McStagger
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 21, 2004
Posts: 3388
From: HELL
| Posted: 2013-02-15 4:36 pm Permalink
don the viking helmets !! barbarians at the gate !! let the plundering begin!! arrrrrrghhh !!!
I hope the new owners aren't going to sell the fish to their customers to eat them !!
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The Sperm Whale
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 23, 2004
Posts: 1538
From: Lakewood California
| Posted: 2013-02-15 7:37 pm Permalink
This is sad news. I have had nothing but fond memory's there. We should have one last visit to The Bahooka !
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christiki295
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 09, 2003
Posts: 3616
From: LA-2547 mls east Hawaii &5500 Easter Is
| Posted: 2013-02-15 8:52 pm Permalink
"The new owner wants the building and the liquor license . . ."
Sad news. I visited within 24 hours within learning of it years ago.
After 46 years, it has withstood the test of time, but not the owners' respect,
Not even after years of paying rent.
The "silver lining" is a gorgeous Hawaiian plantation-style restaurant opened nearby:
http://www.canoehouserestaurant.com/index.html
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forgotten tikiman
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 18, 2011
Posts: 348
From: Forgotten Tiki Room. Pismo Beach, CA
| Posted: 2013-02-15 10:26 pm Permalink
Another OG Tiki Est in the history books. This is a real bummer. I will do my best to go there one last time before they close.
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tobunga
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 12, 2008
Posts: 896 | Posted: 2013-02-16 12:24 am Permalink
I am so totally bummed out to hear the news... and getting more bummed out the more I think about it... After Tonga Hut, Bahookah is the tiki place Manuel and I have visited the most...
So sad to hear it will be no more... a great tiki destination in an area (that stretch of Rosemead Boulevard that had a vintage tiki restaurant and tiki apartments) that was totally tiki from the heyday of tiki...
...And Bahooka was a great way to extend a tiki weekend, on the way back from the desert (Mojave Oasis or Caliente) or San Diego (Tiki Oasis)... stopping off for lunch or dinner at Bahooka was a must... heck, we could even work out a stop at Bahooka from a return trip from Disneyland... or even Don's!
Dang, I'm getting teary eyed just thinking of all the GREAT times we've had at Bahooka... Tiki Magazine release parties, Tikiyaki, New Year's Eve, new mug releases, Tikis & Terrors (going WAY back... and where I first had the inkling that tiki was something to which I could really connect and explore)... and even just saying let's go have dinner at Bahooka... So many memories that I now realize will only be memories, not the ongoing experience I complacently expected to always be there...
I'll cherish the memories, but lament what I will forever miss... Just thankful we had the opportunity to visit so many times!
_________________
http://ericoctober.com
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tikijackalope
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Oct 23, 2003
Posts: 814
From: KS/MO
| Posted: 2013-02-16 01:15 am Permalink
I bet the Bahooka is responsible for many a child forming a positive impression of tiki places. When I was there on vacation with friends in 2005, one of the staff set my girlfriend's niece's milk on fire via a suspended crouton soaked in alcohol. To that little girl, it was magic and I know she associated it with the concept of a dimly lit restaurant full of colorful lamps and wooden gods.
_________________
www.thelope.com
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virani
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Sep 17, 2003
Posts: 1434
From: Volcanic area of France
| Posted: 2013-02-16 03:03 am Permalink
that is just so sad. Why, why, why ? When will they understand that those places are history, and they should be preserved ? I don't care about new owners, but just keep the place how it was, keep the chef, keep it alive. Damn.
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tikiskip
Grand Member (6 years) 
Joined: Nov 26, 2005
Posts: 2086 | Posted: 2013-02-16 06:35 am Permalink
Too bad.
All the old skool joints going out sucks.
Some of the new ones got that new tiki smell that for me just don't cut it.
But... as a side note this thread was posted one day ago and has 2,322 hits and is three
pages long.
Yup Tikicentral is dying, Nobodys commin here no more.
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