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Omni Hut, Smyrna, TN (restaurant) |
Tikinomad
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jul 20, 2005
Posts: 364
From: Outerspace
|  Posted: 2010-01-18 6:44 pm Permalink
Ha ha, I was bidding for that one too on the bay! Nice score! 
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Swanky
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 03, 2002
Posts: 4807
From: Hapa Haole Hideaway, TN
| Posted: 2010-01-19 09:25 am Permalink
Quote:
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On 2010-01-18 18:37, Dustycajun wrote:
I just picked up a very nice old Omni Hut menu.
Has anyone been lately?
DC
[ This Message was edited by: Dustycajun 2010-01-18 18:39 ]
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Seeing that menu inside made me regret not looking through the giant stack of all their menus when I had the chance!
Have not been lately, but we are thinking of having a Grogalizer release party there soon.
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Dustycajun
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 16, 2007
Posts: 3929
From: Santa Barbara, CA
| Posted: 2010-01-25 10:32 pm Permalink
Swanky,
Here is the inside of the menu from Mimi's website circa 1999.
Way different the the 1960s version from my menu
The matchbook.
Wow, they stay open all the way to 11:30 PM on Saturday nights!
You guys down there in Tennessee really know how to party!
DC
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Swanky
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 03, 2002
Posts: 4807
From: Hapa Haole Hideaway, TN
| Posted: 2010-01-26 09:19 am Permalink
DC, one day, when they get liquor, they may stay open later... Some day....
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Dustycajun
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 16, 2007
Posts: 3929
From: Santa Barbara, CA
| Posted: 2010-01-26 4:58 pm Permalink
Quote:
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On 2010-01-26 09:19, Swanky wrote:
DC, one day, when they get liquor, they may stay open later... Some day....
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WTF They don't have liquor? That is bass ackwards. What gives, State laws?
DC
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Swanky
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 03, 2002
Posts: 4807
From: Hapa Haole Hideaway, TN
| Posted: 2010-01-27 11:28 am Permalink
Quote:
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On 2010-01-26 16:58, Dustycajun wrote:
Quote:
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On 2010-01-26 09:19, Swanky wrote:
DC, one day, when they get liquor, they may stay open later... Some day....
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WTF They don't have liquor? That is bass ackwards. What gives, State laws?
DC
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Sort of. Recently (last 5 years) the city approved liquor by the drink. But, Col Walls is still around and says no to it. Polly isn't clear why, but he thinks it's a way for employees to steal. Polly says once Mr. Walls is gone, she will be putting in a bar and a second bathroom. I have offered to help get it done and decorated.
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Dustycajun
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 16, 2007
Posts: 3929
From: Santa Barbara, CA
| Posted: 2010-02-05 4:42 pm Permalink
Swanky,
Here is a blow up of the rendering from the menu. The place looked pretty austere when it first opened.
DC
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Sabu The Coconut Boy
Grand Member (8 years) 
Joined: Aug 20, 2002
Posts: 2784
From: Carson, California
| Posted: 2010-02-05 5:12 pm Permalink
Their logo was also "borrowed" for this short 1970s bondage film, titled "The Trouble With Tikis"
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Kenike
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jul 24, 2003
Posts: 1201
From: McKinney, TX
| Posted: 2010-08-02 06:53 am Permalink
Stopped by while traveling through Nashville and took these shots. Loved this place...
_________________
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Zeta
Grand Member (2 years) 
Joined: Feb 13, 2007
Posts: 2030
From: Atlantis/Basque Country/Spain/Mexico
| Posted: 2010-08-02 07:26 am Permalink
Great pictures Kenike! Sharp colors!
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TikiTomD
Grand Member (3 years) 
Joined: Sep 20, 2009
Posts: 629
From: Flagler Beach, FL
| Posted: 2011-04-30 6:09 pm Permalink
Ran across this 1960s ad for the Omni Hut while rummaging thru personal memorabilia...
The Nashville Banner June 24, 1969
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Dustycajun
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 16, 2007
Posts: 3929
From: Santa Barbara, CA
| Posted: 2011-09-27 3:20 pm Permalink
I picked up two of these these nice double old fashion glasses from the Omni Hut.
Anybody seen these before? New or vintage?
Thanks,
DC
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TikiTomD
Grand Member (3 years)
Joined: Sep 20, 2009
Posts: 629
From: Flagler Beach, FL
| Posted: 2012-11-17 7:56 pm Permalink
Jim Walls, founder of the Omni Hut, passed away on March 4, 2012...
Murfreesboro Daily News Journal March 5, 2012
The Murfreesboro Post March 12, 2012
I learned this from my Mt. Juliet, Tennessee cousin, Bob, who had dinner there several weeks ago. Being from the Nashville area, he recalls both the Ports of Paradise and Mahi Mahi restaurants along White Bridge Road that Jim Walls once owned. I've seen posts on Tiki Cental by Swanky about the Mahi Mahi, but never anything about Ports of Paradise. Bob remembers that Ports of Paradise had no windows, but had a diorama(s) that simulated rain on windows.
So we've lost another of Tiki's legendary characters...
-Tom
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TikiTomD
Grand Member (3 years)
Joined: Sep 20, 2009
Posts: 629
From: Flagler Beach, FL
| Posted: 2012-11-21 08:39 am Permalink
Found this anecdote about James Walls (Omni Hut) and Don May (Leilani Hut) in a California newspaper...
Long Beach Press Telegram February 3, 1966
-Tom
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bigbrotiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 25, 2002
Posts: 10562
From: Tiki Island, above the Silverlake
| Posted: 2012-11-21 12:47 pm Permalink
Those nutty Tiki hut proprietors!
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