Comments on: New Trader Vic’s Concept: Mai Tai Bars http://blog.humuhumu.com/2006/08/01/new-trader-vics-concept-mai-tai-bars Reports from your intrepid tiki explorer, Humuhumu Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:42:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: JohnMan http://blog.humuhumu.com/2006/08/01/new-trader-vics-concept-mai-tai-bars#comment-9997 JohnMan Fri, 04 Aug 2006 02:07:50 +0000 http://blog.humuhumu.com/2006/08/01/new-trader-vics-concept-mai-tai-bars#comment-9997 Boston or Providence is in dire need of a little tikification. The TV Mai Tai Bar would be a perfect introduction to get things going here again! Plus I'm sick of red and yellow Mai Tais and this could finally be an escape from the usual faire in these parts. Boston or Providence is in dire need of a little tikification. The TV Mai Tai Bar would be a perfect introduction to get things going here again! Plus I’m sick of red and yellow Mai Tais and this could finally be an escape from the usual faire in these parts.

]]> By: Humuhumu http://blog.humuhumu.com/2006/08/01/new-trader-vics-concept-mai-tai-bars#comment-9760 Humuhumu Wed, 02 Aug 2006 19:26:54 +0000 http://blog.humuhumu.com/2006/08/01/new-trader-vics-concept-mai-tai-bars#comment-9760 Hey, that'd be great, Swanky! I'll keep my fingers crossed for you. Metaphorically, of course, because I'm going to need to use my hands between now and when the Knoxville Mai Tai Bar becomes a reality. Sounds swell! Hey, that’d be great, Swanky! I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you. Metaphorically, of course, because I’m going to need to use my hands between now and when the Knoxville Mai Tai Bar becomes a reality. Sounds swell!

]]> By: Swanky’s Blather » Trader Vic’s Mai Tai bar http://blog.humuhumu.com/2006/08/01/new-trader-vics-concept-mai-tai-bars#comment-9702 Swanky’s Blather » Trader Vic’s Mai Tai bar Wed, 02 Aug 2006 14:34:26 +0000 http://blog.humuhumu.com/2006/08/01/new-trader-vics-concept-mai-tai-bars#comment-9702 [...] I was keeping this on the DL as I heard about it through the FOM earlier, but since Tiki Talk and Humu Humu blogged it, I thought I would too. [...] [...] I was keeping this on the DL as I heard about it through the FOM earlier, but since Tiki Talk and Humu Humu blogged it, I thought I would too. [...]

]]> By: Swanky http://blog.humuhumu.com/2006/08/01/new-trader-vics-concept-mai-tai-bars#comment-9691 Swanky Wed, 02 Aug 2006 13:25:11 +0000 http://blog.humuhumu.com/2006/08/01/new-trader-vics-concept-mai-tai-bars#comment-9691 I heard about this through the FOM a couple of days ago and immediately looked into it. I spoke with Sven Koch (V.P. of TV America) and Hans Richter (Pres. TV) (who both rescued Hukilau in 2002!) about franchise opportunities yesterday. If you look at the Trader Vic's Spain site ( http://www.tradervics-spain.com/eng/menu_eng.htm Estepona ), there is a picture of the Mai Tai bar, but that image is actually the Hawaii location. Yes, the Hawaii location will be open before the Spain location. This new concept is tremendously exciting. After spending a year working on a business plan for The Headhunter Lounge ( www.theheadhunterlounge.com ), what I ended up with looks a lot like this Mai Tai bar. Concentrate on the high margin items, keep a small menu that means a small staff and small kitchen. Something closer to a Tiki Ti than a Trader Vic's. Or perhaps, something closer to Forbidden Island. It is also much much less expensive. This bar could be opened in 4 months at a start-up cost of only maybe $500,000. I can see these popping up all over the US, not just in major metropolitan areas. Hans says the decor budget for one of these is only about $25,000, which is one of the smallest expenditures. I would love to open one here in Knoxville. It's so close to what I had in mind anyway, and you get Trader Vic's name, drinks, food and they train the bartenders, cooks and manager... It's an amazing concept. I heard about this through the FOM a couple of days ago and immediately looked into it.

I spoke with Sven Koch (V.P. of TV America) and Hans Richter (Pres. TV) (who both rescued Hukilau in 2002!) about franchise opportunities yesterday. If you look at the Trader Vic’s Spain site ( http://www.tradervics-spain.com/eng/menu_eng.htm Estepona ), there is a picture of the Mai Tai bar, but that image is actually the Hawaii location. Yes, the Hawaii location will be open before the Spain location.

This new concept is tremendously exciting. After spending a year working on a business plan for The Headhunter Lounge ( http://www.theheadhunterlounge.com ), what I ended up with looks a lot like this Mai Tai bar. Concentrate on the high margin items, keep a small menu that means a small staff and small kitchen. Something closer to a Tiki Ti than a Trader Vic’s. Or perhaps, something closer to Forbidden Island.

It is also much much less expensive. This bar could be opened in 4 months at a start-up cost of only maybe $500,000. I can see these popping up all over the US, not just in major metropolitan areas. Hans says the decor budget for one of these is only about $25,000, which is one of the smallest expenditures. I would love to open one here in Knoxville. It’s so close to what I had in mind anyway, and you get Trader Vic’s name, drinks, food and they train the bartenders, cooks and manager… It’s an amazing concept.

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