Chin Tiki, photo by Feelin’ Zombified
It’s been a while since my last update about the Chin Tiki in Detroit. It’s been a very, very long time since Chin Tiki was operational — 1980 — but all the interiors were still there sitting unused in the decades that followed, leading locals to hope that perhaps Chin Tiki’s days were not quite over. But Marvin Chin died last year, and I believe much of the decor was sold or moved to his son’s restaurant, Chin’s in nearby Livonia.
The parking lot surrounding Chin Tiki had been sold years ago to Ilitch Holdings, and in February of this year, they took deed of the restaurant building, too. According to The Detroit News, Ilitch Holdings has been quietly purchasing other properties in this desolate area of Detroit, leading to speculation that there may be plans to build a new hockey arena — Mike Ilitch owns the Detroit Red Wings. Even if a hockey arena isn’t the ultimate outcome, it appears likely that the Chin Tiki building is destined to be razed for a larger development — developers don’t buy up four blocks of contiguous land because they really like the sidewalks.
- Ilitches’ downtown power play [The Detroit News]
- Chin Tiki in Detroit: An Update [Humu Kon Tiki]
- Chin Tiki, Detroit [Critiki]
May 10th, 2007 at 11:17 am
Wow… this is big news. As much as I’m a tiki fan, I’m a much longer Redwings fan, and I can’t imagine the Wings moving away from the legendary Joe Louis Arena. I sure hope it’s not true, for more than one reason!
May 11th, 2007 at 6:06 am
I haven’t noticed any new tiki at Chin’s, which is right around the corner from work – and I sneak away for a Maitai there at every opportunity.
The big Tikis outside Chin’s Chop Suey are looking pretty sad these days… I’ll have to take some pictures next time I’m there.
May 23rd, 2007 at 7:30 pm
Gee! Imagine that! Detroit’s going to raze another unique part of its history! Shocking!
April 16th, 2009 at 9:02 am
http://americajr.com/pictures/detroit/chintikidemolished0313.html
September 3rd, 2011 at 11:39 pm
I was a waitress there. I think it was around 1974-76. Wow, this is a blast to the past!! It was a fun place to work.