In the wake of a headline-grabbing sneak preview of the immaculately restored interior in June, South Florida’s historic Mai-Kai restaurant finally kicked off an ambitious reimagination of its sprawling 2.7-acre property in July.
“There’s a lot of digging out there,” manager Kern Mattei said in July as work moved along at a rapid pace just outside the doors.
The continuing efforts restoring the guest areas and rebuilding the back-of-house remain free from prying eyes. But the spectacular transformation of the entryway, porte-cochère, and parking lot is on full display to passersby on Federal Highway in Fort Lauderdale. The busy thoroughfare borders the small city of Oakland Park, which recently gave the green light to the final design projects that will turn the somewhat utilitarian driveway into an elaborately themed environment worthy of any theme park.
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• Latest news on work inside, outside The Mai-Kai
• Anticipation builds with exclusive tours, media coverage
• Permits point to work concluding in October
The project is under the direction of Perry-Becker Design, an Orlando-based landscape architecture and thematic design firm. Perry-Becker’s credits include the recent and ongoing renovations of Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, as well as other immersive projects at major theme parks, zoos, and resorts across the country. On the ground, specialists from BrightView Landscape Development and COST of Wisconsin bring decades of expertise. The site plan was developed by architectural designers Kravit Architectural Associates of Boca Raton.
It will be a fitting conclusion to the revival of the 67-year-old historic landmark, which became necessary after a roof collapse following an October 2020 storm destroyed the kitchen and shut down the restaurant indefinitely. In September 2021, the founding Thornton family sold a majority interest to Miami’s Barlington Group, led by historic preservationist Bill Fuller. Now, nearly three years and more than $15 million later, Fuller is pushing for a much-anticipated reopening this fall.
In this story, we’ll share insights and catch up with Mattei – as well as creative director “Typhoon Tommy” Allsmiller – on both the exterior and interior projects over the past two months. Next, we’ll recap the excitement in June, when exclusive tours during The Hukilau fueled the reopening buzz. Finally, we’ll check the latest updates of city building permits to get an idea on when projects should be wrapping up.
Recent Mai-Kai coverage
• Inside the Molokai Bar and tour of The Mai-Kai restoration
Story archive: Full coverage of The Mai-Kai refurbishment
Latest news on work inside, outside The Mai-Kai
Here’s a recap of where everything stands as of early August, including work done throughout June and July.
JUNE: Kitchen and back-of-house become top priority
As guests saw firsthand during the special tours held in early June, the Molokai Bar, showroom and dining rooms surrounding the massive 40-foot main A-frame are now in great shape, thanks to the intricate work by creative director “Typhoon Tommy” Allsmiller and his crew over the past 18 months. Some of the rear dining areas still need some touching up to get them back to 100%, but the main focus over the past two months has been the new 25-foot-long back service bar, staff locker rooms, and a new special needs restroom.
When we talked to Allsmiller at the end of June, he and fellow artists Scott “Flounder” Scheidly and Tom Fowner were immersed in all of the above. They were busy working on lamps, custom lighting, and other design elements that will make the backstage areas just as themed and immersive as the front-of-house.
Allsmiller called on South Florida artist Jeff Kozan to create distinctive Polynesian designs that will be applied to both the men’s and women’s locker room doors. The tattoo specialist has come on board at various times during the renovations, including restoring vintage tapa displays in 2023. The men’s room also now features a large door handle carved by Fowner.
In the new handicapped bathroom, which carries the same nautical theme as the men’s room and Molokai Bar, Allsmiller and fellow Central Florida artist Scheidly are combining two of their most notable talents to create a special feature. Prior to joining The Mai-Kai in early 2022, Allsmiller spent more than a decade as scenic artist in the themed entertainment industry, working on both Universal and Disney parks. Scheidly came on board in March 2023, interrupting his career as a fine artist known for his disturbingly realistic paintings.
Allsmiller created a wall panel powered by programmable LED lights that will simulate a sunrise and sunset amid a seascape scene painted by Scheidly. The space was a true group effort, with Fowner working on the detailed painting and theming.
Meanwhile, an old feature was restored in the Mai-Kai Trading Post. Before it was a gift shop, this ornate space was the Bangkok dining room, designed with an upscale Asian theme similar to the women’s restroom. As long as many of us have experienced this space, the east wall that faces the Tonga dining room was closed off. Gift shop clerks traditionally worked the cash register with their back to a wall of mirrors and shelves filled with merchandise.
Much to our surprise, the mirrors have been removed, leaving the large pillars as the only dividers between the gift shop and dining room. Huge gaps reveal a breathtaking view of the entire main showroom from throughout the gift shop, especially the elevated area in the back, which may have been the original design of the Bangkok Room.
Here’s hoping this new (old) feature remains as the room is reconfigured. Between the view of the showroom stage and the new window into the back service bar, the Trading Post will take on a whole new kinetic feel instead being a secluded alcove. “You can stand here and completely see the entire building,” Allsmiller said.
By June 26, work had begun outside with trenches in place for new retainer walls and holes being dug for the foundation of the new Bora Bora Bar. Keith Becker, principal of landscape architecture and thematic design for Perry-Becker, paid a visit to get a look at the property before his firm’s plans take flight in July.
But first, there was a little project to get out of the way. Scheidly posted a video on Instagram on June 28 showing an array of artifacts that had been in storage, returned to The Mai-Kai in time for the following week’s special project …
JULY: A three-ring circus of thematic design starts to take shape
“Step right up, step right up!” Motorists passing by The Mai-Kai on Monday, July 1, may have done a double-take when they glanced over at 3599 N. Federal Highway and saw what could have been mistaken for a very expansive traveling circus. In reality, The Mai-Kai was undergoing a long-delayed tenting for pest control.
The entire building was covered, with the exception of the main A-frame and some of the new flat roof that supports the air-conditioning systems. As Mattei explained, the project’s logistics were complex, but The PEST Group finally figured out a way to ensure the best treatment without damaging the intricate AC ducts and equipment.
All of the inside areas of the building were fumigated with Vikane (aka sulfuryl fluoride), a colorless and odorless gas used to control a wide variety of pests, including termites. The infested wood had been removed by the designers, to the best of their ability, but the structure was in dire need of a treatment considering its age and recent history.
As many as a dozen workers climbed in front and on top of the building, scrambling to secure the tent over the rear A-frames, the entire front of the building, the Molokai Bar, the porte-cochère, and back-of-house building. We chatted with Mattei, who was overseeing the work, but Allsmiller and the design team took the week off.
Crews worked throughout the day, finally finishing as the sun was setting. The tent was left in place for just one night, but nobody was allowed into the building until after the July Fourth holiday. But this didn’t stop construction crews from continuing to prep the parking lot for its next phase.
By the middle of the month, the landscaping project and other work outside finally began to pick up steam. “We’ve had a busy week,” Mattei said in an email on July 21. “Things are popping.”
When we stopped by the next day, things were indeed popping. Joined by a team of carpenters, Allsmiller started replacing the wood planks on the signature “bridge” that vehicles traverse when they turn right off southbound Federal Highway. It’s not a bridge at all, of course, as no actual body of water flows beneath it.
It’s a cleverly designed special effect featuring loose boards that rumble beneath tires, echoing into the Molokai Bar as guests peer though rain-coated windows (another special effect), wondering if they just heard thunder outside. When all the new wood is in place, the planks will be aged and the entire area will be themed to make you feel like you’re entering a rustic back road to paradise in the South Pacific.
“The good news is, they’re already starting to warp,” Mattei said of the planks. “They need to float” to make the correct noise, he added. They will begin testing with vehicles when construction allows. “The new stamped concrete will go right up to the bridge,” Mattei said. A lot of work was done on the cement around the bridge in preparation.
New cement was poured to form retainer walls along the north side of the building beyond the porte-cochère. The small, knee-high walls will be themed and are designed to keep people from walking into plants and foliage. These “seat walls” are also designed to allow guests to sit and admire the surroundings or wait for their ride.
Divider walls were also going up to frame the new outdoor bar and surround the historic banyan trees. Wood frames for cement walls were in place elsewhere, including the front of the property beyond the old water feature in front of where the Bora Bora building once stood.
We also spotted crews placing a curious structure in front near the porte-cochère, a large gridwork of various shapes perhaps 15 feet high. I found out later that this is the framework for a new water feature that will sit roughly where the old driveway neared the roofline, creating a sound and sight barrier from the highway traffic.
When I returned just three days later, even more progress had been made. Cement walls were up around the old Bora Bora water feature, and the frame for the new waterfall had grown with the addition of more oddly shaped pieces, all numbered for easy placement, like a giant Ikea fixture.
All this activity is a welcome change for Mattei, even though he now has trouble finding a parking space. “There’s 20 guys here every day,” he told us on July 25. “Three different companies are all working at the same time.”
• The water feature is the handiwork of COST, a theme and specialty construction company based in Jackson, Wisc., with a branch office in Orlando. This makes sense when you consider the firm’s history in the theme park industry. COST will also create the water feature and faux volcanic caldera that will be the centerpiece of the roundabout that will guide traffic through the new Mai-Kai parking lot.
• BrightView Landscape Development is taking care of the specialty stamped concrete pavement, the grounds and the bar. The company, with locations across the country, is an industry leader in commercial landscaping with a portfolio that includes Marlins Park, Legoland, and the Miami Beach Soundscape.
• A local company, CSR Heavy Construction of Deerfield Beach, is handling the asphalt paving and other basic but integral work. If you see large equipment on the site, it probably belongs go CSR.
The kind of theatrical landscape design that Perry-Becker exemplifies is a specialty that dates back to the early days of Disneyland. In the hands of Imagineers, the landscaping became an extension of the park’s “sets” and stories being told. Many of these elements are more than merely a decorative extension of the overall theme, they’re a stylized part of the story.
This is evident throughout The Mai-Kai’s new arrival experience, from the weathered driveway that looks like a rural dirt road in Hawaii, to a water-and-light feature that simulates a volcanic caldera, to walkways embedded with Polynesian iconography that guest will see as they walk toward the front doors.
The symbols – Koru, Hei Matau, and Moana – will be stenciled and sandblasted into the concrete near the porte-cochère (see full rendering). Here are the symbols and their corresponding meaning:
Mattei took time out to give us tours on July 25 and July 31. The framing and position of the roundabout was now visible, along with wood frames all around the entrance area where cement is due to be poured for the new driveway. Along the back side of the banyan trees, they’re creating a shady area for people awaiting rides.
Now free of the constraints of the Bora Bora building (removed in April 2022), the banyans are enveloping the entire area. “We’re going to try to let the trees grow out,” Mattei said, adding that they want a “big canopy” to cover the driveway that will be lined with coconut palms and clusia plants.
The manager gave us a closer look at the large framed structure that will become the new waterfall. It’s made of steel rebar with plastic gridwork. The crew consulted a small model with the corresponding numbers to make sure it was put together correctly.
After the cement base and plumbing are in place, he said, they’ll use a hopper – “basically a gun that shoots cement” – to cover the exterior of the structure in many different layers that will then be formed. A new stand-alone pump will be added to control the elaborate new feature with water flowing on all sides. Arriving vehicles will see one side while bar patrons will face the other. “When you’re at the bar, you’ll be at the bar, not sitting on U.S. 1,” Mattei said.
Bora Bora may be gone, but its signature water feature remains. Mattei said they’re trying to keep as much of the original feature fronting U.S. 1 as original as possible. A new pump system will be installed since the old one was housed in the demolished building.
“It will look a little different,” he said. “We’re trying to keep it more natural colors.” The bottom will be a sand color, instead of blue, with underwater lights adding color. The wall surrounding the water feature will be stylized lava rock and stone walls like Hawaii, he said. “When you see it, you’re going to fall in love.”
There are specialists working on the foliage, along with the waterfalls and pumps, Mattei said. They were lucky to find someone who was skilled at restoring old pump systems, he said. A new pump will power the existing waterfalls around the three signature Tikis carvings when they return to their pedestals under the porte-cochère.
They also need to get the old water features back up and running in front of the A-frame, in the back Tiki garden, and elsewhere. The only other new water feature still to be added will be the caldera in the roundabout. The framework sitting in the back corner of the lot is likely awaiting that project.
Behind the building in the parking areas, crews were making sure all the elevations are correct before paving begins. “Surveyors came out to measure all the grades and levels,” Mattei said. It’s strategically designed so any large rainfall or flooding goes right into the new drains. “No more puddles,” he said.
Even in these non-themed areas, the lot won’t be a large asphalt jungle. Islands will feature lights and landscaping. A 3-foot-high tapa design will run all the way along the new 8-foot-high privacy wall that stretches across the back of the property along Northeast 20th Avenue.
Just two days after our last visit, the first layer of asphalt went down in the north and south sections of the parking lot. Mattei sent us a photo of the area behind the building in which you can see one of the drains as well as the future islands.
While it’s far removed from the entrance and parking lot, the outdoor Tiki garden that’s tucked beyond the Tahiti and Moorea dining rooms will get the same treatment. All the paved pathways have been removed in preparation. New pipes for sprinklers are going in, along with electric for the lights.
“Once they do that, we’ll put in an ADA-friendly path,” Mattei said. All the steps have been removed, and the new walkway will be concrete themed to resemble a dirt path.
Despite all the activity outside, there was still plenty to keep Mattei, Allsmiller and his team busy inside. Design work continued on the new back service bar, including shelving and lighting. Meanwhile, new equipment was being installed in the Molokai’s back bar.
In another example of the efforts to keep as many original features as possible, the two doors into the Molokai’s back bar were replaced with replicas, but they kept the original “lazy Susan” revolving trays so drinks can come out of the bar secretly and efficiently.
In addition, the small Molokai kitchen is now “a great setup,” Mattei said. The equipment is upgraded to include new fryers, a grill, refrigerators, sinks, and more. Customized bar equipment is coming next. In addition to servicing the 150-capacity lounge, this bar will also provide some of the food and cocktails for the new outdoor space.
Meanwhile in the new kitchen, Mattei and the Mad Room Hospitality team that will be in charge of running the restaurant are already sampling potential new dishes. “We’re working on menu revisions and updates,” Mattei said.
But have no fear. Most of The Mai-Kai classic dishes will remain, from Peking Duck to the Pupu Platter. Mattei said they’re mainly looking at elevating some of the more pedestrian wok dishes, while also keeping prices reasonable.
Management is also meeting with liquor distributors in an effort to find a wider range of offerings for the rum-centric menu. Again, all the classic cocktails will remain, but Mattei said they’re hoping to expand the menu to include options for fans of other spirits.
There’s no reason to believe that the food and drinks won’t accomplish the same goal as the design and decor: To remain traditional, yet add special new touches.
Anticipation builds with exclusive tours, media coverage
June started with a bang at The Mai-Kai with special guided tours provided to passholders at The Hukilau, the annual Tiki event held in South Florida since 2003. It was the first time the event’s guests (aka “villagers”) have been able to set foot inside the building since 2019.
On June 7, several hundred villagers arrived in busloads of about 50 each for the roughly 2-hour experience. I was honored to join manager Kern Mattei, and designers “Typhoon Tommy” Allsmiller and Scott “Flounder” Scheidly in leading smaller groups from the refurbished Molokai Bar into the main showroom, then through the new back-of-house bar and kitchen. Drink samples were enjoyed in the bars, merchandise was purchased in the gift shop, and a good time was had by all.
Full coverage, photos: Inside the Molokai Bar and tour of The Mai-Kai restoration
More: The Mai-Kai sneak preview at The Hukilau
Five days after the exclusive tours, the local media got in on the action and exposed The Mai-Kai restoration project to a wider audience. A story by the South Florida Sun Sentinel – titled “Sneak peek: Inside the Mai-Kai Restaurant’s $15 million face-lift — and when it reopens” – was posted online June 11. The subscriber-only story includes a dozen new photos taken by staff photographer Amy Beth Bennett, a few of which are featured above and below.
It was also shared with MSN.com, where it can be viewed without a subscription, though only one photo is featured. Even more newsworthy than the photos, however, was the projected reopening timeline shared by owner Bill Fuller. Here’s how the story by Phillip Valys kicks off:
Nearly four years after the Mai-Kai Restaurant and Polynesian Show closed, the rum-soaked landmark is finally expected to reopen this summer, newly garnished with Orlando theme-park magic.
Over the past year, a crew composed of Universal Orlando and Disney designers — call them an Ocean’s Eleven of imagineers — have brought every nook, lamp and bamboo panel of this Oakland Park tiki time capsule back to its original glory, while adding a fresh raft of design upgrades.
The $15 million Mai-Kai face-lift is on target to soft-open this September, with a grand-opening set for sometime in October, developer Bill Fuller told the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
“We’re rebuilding the Mai-Kai for the next 60 years, and we didn’t cut corners on anything,” Fuller said. “It’s one huge collaboration. It’s like developing a movie or a huge Broadway show.”
Fuller has since revised his “soft opening” estimate, according to Mattei, so September seems unlikely. But October remains clearly in the owner’s sights. The ownership group, which includes a number of outside investors, has shared no expense. According to the story: “The project’s price tag, originally projected to be $8.5 million, has nearly doubled, Fuller confirmed.”
Fuller went on to tell the Sun Sentinel that roughly 95% of the Mai-Kai’s interiors are finished as work concludes on the landscaping of the grounds. Fuller and Mattei were effusive in their praise of the artistic team for their work on the restoration.
“Now I kind of understand how Walt Disney did it,” Fuller said. “The renovation is one big immersive art project the moment you step from Federal Highway onto the property. We relied on fanatics who could steep their minds in the history of Polynesia, the imagery, the lighting, what the show’s like, how the food tastes, the garnish of the drinks, and how it’s still relevant today.”
Fuller is especially excited about the new faux volcano, which will be framed in tiki torches, red lighting and other special effects. “It’s wild theme-park madness,” he said.
Mattei told Valys: “I never thought it would come back this massive. It’s like magic. They sourced all these materials we didn’t even know existed. They made new wood look old, and it’s amazing stuff. Everything looks the same, and if they did their jobs right, normal folks won’t even know the difference.”
Allsmiller explained the intention and his technique further: “All of the woven matting and bamboo planks on the walls had to be scoured and aged. Which is the whole point: It’s supposed to look like it was always at the Mai-Kai, and that I was never there.”
The story was later featured as the centerpiece on the front page of the Sun Sentinel‘s Sunday print edition on June 23, proving the newsworthiness and high interest in the local landmark.
Also on June 11, Florida travel website Florida Rambler posted an extensive story by Deborah Hartz-Seeley on the restoration and history of The Mai-Kai. I was happy to provide photos and background info for the story, which used The Atomic Grog coverage as a source.
Hartz-Seeley, a longtime patron, provides a distinctive point-of-view on The Mai-Kai’s rise, fall and upcoming resurrection. In the 1950s, “the restaurant’s closest neighbors were the pine trees, palm trees and grass that spread pretty much as far as the eye could see,” Hartz-Seeley wrote of a friend’s first-hand accounts. “That is until you came upon a real estate office way in the distance. The area was on the eve of expansion.”
The story covers the full history, from family matriarch Mireille Thornton joining the Polynesian Islander Revue in the 1960s, to her late husband Bob Thornton taking over full ownership from his brother Jack in 1970, to the Mai-Kai’s inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places in 2014.
There’s also a detailed recap of all the restoration efforts, from the Molokai Bar to the porte-cochère to the rest rooms. The story wraps up with a look at what’s to come:
Visitors to the reimagined Mai-Kai gardens will find them easy to navigate on new ADA approved walkways. Although made of cement, they will look like they were worn into the red dirt of the islands.
Ferns as well as real and artificial flowers among the rocks will add splendor and color so that these gardens will continue to be a favored place for evening strolls and, yes, even weddings.
Rounding out the media coverage was a story posted by the weekly Miami New Times on June 28. Be aware that the reference to a September opening is no longer accurate, as noted above. A potential soft opening has been pushed back to October, along with the grand reopening.
A soft opening is usually a sneak preview held before the full opening to the public. For The Mai-Kai, this will give them a chance to work out any kinks in their complex service system and new kitchen/bar before a full-blown reopening.
The story by Michelle Muslera includes new quotes from owner Fuller, plus new photos taken for The Mai-Kai by Marina Anderson. “The restoration involved significant preservation efforts, including updating the roof and meticulously restoring original furniture, wall finishes, and intricate wood carvings imported from Polynesia and Southeast Asia,” Fuller told New Times.
Fuller also shared some new information regarding the nightly dinner shows. A new booking system will allow guests to choose their exact seats, making the process much more efficient, the story says. The authentic South Seas stage show is just one of many unique elements that give the restaurant unique cultural and historical value. As Fuller explained:
“The Mai-Kai is an institution. It’s protected by the National Park Service and is historic on many fronts. It’s not just about the architectural details — it’s a cultural masterpiece. Developed in the 1950s as part of the Tiki movement, it’s very rare that such places have passed the test of time.” The story concludes:
As the reopening date approaches, fans can look forward to returning to The Mai-Kai’s sprawling 26,000-square-foot space, where much of the original charm remains intact. “The restoration efforts have ensured that the venue will continue to thrive for generations to come,” adds Fuller. “The Mai-Kai is not just a restaurant, it’s a cultural treasure—a rare glimpse into the grandeur of mid-century Polynesian supper clubs.”
When the doors reopen this September, guests will once again experience the magic of the Mai-Kai—a place where history, culture, and entertainment blend seamlessly.
Permits point to work concluding in October
There are high hopes that The Mai-Kai will be able open in October. But we need to temper our expectations with the reality of permit approvals as they relate to the flurry of work underway both inside and outside the restaurant. Every time a permit is denied, the issue needs be to corrected, then a re-inspection scheduled at a future date. There’s no way to know for sure, but based on the information at hand, an October date will be cutting it very close.
But as manager Kern Mattei explained, owner Bill Fuller insists on setting a concrete goal for a specific timeframe because he wants no dilly-dallying that may inherently come with a nebulous date. Urgency has become the mantra.
It’s been two months since we last reported on the status of the city of Oakland Park building permits, so there have been some changes. If you look back at our past three updates, you’ll notice that expiration dates being pushed forward is fairly typical. The contractor needs to make sure there’s enough time to complete the scheduled jobs.
• Early April: Permits point to June-July completion
• Early May: Most permits now set to expire in July
• Early June: Some permits pushed back to September
Now, as of early August, we’re seeing at least five permits that appear to be active. One that covers the fire-suppression system is set to expire Sept. 3. But the other four all have expiration dates in October, ranging from the 14th through the 30th. This would seem to indicate that at least several of the projects will extend into that month.
The good news is that two projects were recently completed, according to city records. The permit to build a new dumpster enclosure behind the kitchen was finalized June 26. And the plumbing permit to tunnel under the building and replace pipes to the restrooms and kitchen was finalized July 16.
There are also a handful of permits that seem to be active but are tagged as expired. They cover projects such as the installation of landscape lighting (80% complete) and reinforcing the rooftop HVAC unit (70% complete). These two may just need updated expiration dates since they both involve active and ongoing inspections.
Two longtime interior projects have yet to be completed, but there’s no reason to believe they won’t be wrapping up during the final months of the summer. The March 2023 permit for interior renovations is 59% complete with an Oct. 16 expiration date. It’s scheduled for a plan review on Aug. 19. The permit covering the kitchen equipment, issued in April 2023, is 75% complete with an Oct. 14 expiration date.
The other two permits that expire in October cover outdoor work: Plumbing and electrical systems for the new bar (32% complete, expires Oct. 10), and parking lot asphalt and drainage (61% complete, expires Oct. 30). These appear to be the most crucial and involve many moving parts. But with the landscape work moving at a rapid pace, as detailed above, completion before those dates is not out of the question. Both have multiple inspections looming.
Keep in mind that those percentages reflect not the actual work, but the checklist of permit approvals that are required. Those could come quickly – or not- depending the procedures (aka red tape) that surround the city requirements.
As the restoration project reaches the point where we can gaze longingly at the light at the end of the tunnel, here’s hoping approvals come swift and often. Stay tuned for future updates.
MORE ON THE MAI-KAI
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COMPLETE COVERAGE FROM THE ATOMIC GROG
EXCLUSIVE: The Mai-Kai Restoration Guide
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