Hilton soon estimated the popular Trader Vic's establishments were earning his hotel chain $5 million a year. Two years later, Hilton opened another Trader Vic's in The Palmer House in Chicago, and then licensed the Trader Vic's brand for use throughout his chain for $2,000,000, retaining Bergeron to oversee the decoration, staffing and operation of the restaurants for an annual salary of $65,000. Conrad Hilton opened his first Trader Vic's in The Beverly Hilton in 1955. īecause Bergeron lacked the capital to expand, he partnered with Hilton Hotels. In 1950, Bergeron opened a Trader Vic's location in Hawaii and in 1951 at 20 Cosmo Place in San Francisco. Due to the restaurant's success, Bergeron worked with Western Hotels to open Trader Vic's locations in a number of their hotels. Originally a small bar named The Outrigger, it was expanded into a full restaurant in 1954 and renamed Trader Vic's in 1960. In 1949, Western Hotels executive Edward Carlson convinced Bergeron to open his first franchised location in the Benjamin Franklin Hotel in Seattle. As its popularity spread, the menu and decor developed an increasingly tropical flair, and Hinky Dink's soon became Trader Vic's. On November 17, 1934, using $500 in borrowed money, Bergeron opened a small bar/restaurant across from his parents' grocery store at San Pablo Avenue and 65th Street in the Golden Gate District of Oakland. The other was his amicable competitor for many years, Donn Beach of the "Don the Beachcomber" restaurants.īergeron attended Heald College in San Francisco. He was one of two people who claimed to have invented the Mai Tai. (Decemin San Francisco – Octoin Hillsborough, California) founded a chain of Polynesian-themed restaurants that bore his nickname, "Trader Vic". Trader Vic's is a restaurant and tiki bar chain headquartered in Emeryville, California, United States. I love collecting and decorating way too much.Old menu cover, original Trader Vic's, Oakland Matt- There’s a saying that pertains to Tiki bars: “The bar is never finished, just keep layering things even if you have to start hanging stuff from the ceiling!” Ha-ha! I swear mine will never be done. What does the future hold for you and your home tiki bar? The more stuff you have crammed in the space the more fun it is to look at. Also, the right type of music is essential! A water feature is something that can make the space feel more tropical as well, Layering stuff is essential. Matt- Start with a great bar and some decent bamboo furniture, then layer in lighting, foliage and as much Tiki odds and ends as possible. Outside of great drinks, what do you think are essential elements in creating the perfect Tiki environment? As far as local Detroit Tiki bars Mutiny and Lost River are both great! I travel for work and whenever I’m in LA I have to hit Tiki Ti, Tonga Hut and a slew of other local LA Tiki bars. That one is hard to beat! I dig The Golden Tiki in Vegas as well. Matt- One of my favorite places on earth is Frankie’s Tiki Room in Vegas. What is your favorite Tiki bar? Not including your own! I also love a good margarita! If I had to pick a rum drink it would be a Mai Tai. But I’ve got to be honest with you, I’m a gin man. Matt- I know all things Tiki usually revolve around rum. I never knew there were other Boom Boom Rooms until recently! I honestly probably heard the name in an old movie and it stuck with me. Matt- I wish I had a great story to tell you. That’s how the Boom Boom Room came to life! Once I had a place to build a full blown Tiki room I did. As an adult, I started collecting mid-century modern furniture and I started to mix in all my love for Tiki stuff. After Disney, we would go to the Florida Keys and visit all the local bars and restaurants that had a ton of Tiki decor. First up was Disney World and the Enchanted Tiki Room that blew me away! And of course, the Pirates of The Caribbean ride was also a big influence. Matt- When I was a kid my parents took us to Florida on vacation. What brought you into the tiki lifestyle and how long has it been part of your life? Other than that, there’s quite a few private collectors and home/basement Tiki rooms. Two bars opened in the past couple years and they’re both great! Mutiny Bar and Lost River. Matt- It’s just starting to get going in Detroit. What is the tiki scene like where you live? There are so many cool little details inside the Boom Boom Room that it would be a sin to turn the lights out. I usually like my tiki bars dark but in the case of Matt “Captain” Wittstock’s Boom Boom Room, keep the lights on! I’ve always wondered what a home tiki bar might have looked like in the 70’s and I think I found my answer.
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