The epic and arduous adventure to restore and reopen South Florida’s historic Mai-Kai restaurant is nearing its thrilling conclusion. And like many great adventure stories, it has fans on the edge of their seats and chomping at the bit to fast-forward to the finale.
Happily, the end of this South Seas tale is just the beginning. When the beloved Polynesian palace reopens this fall after more than $15 million was poured into a highly detailed and spectacularly imagined renovation project, a new adventure will begin. One that the new owners of the 67-year-old property just outside Fort Lauderdale believe will transport guests for generations to come.
RELATED: Past coverage of The Mai-Kai refurbishment
IMPORTANT NOTE: The Atomic Grog has agreed with Mai-Kai ownership and management to keep our reporting of details and photos to a minimum as excitement builds toward the grand reopening this fall. Be assured, there is a lot of amazing work being done during this homestretch. For our patience, we will all be rewarded by a spectacular sight when all is revealed in the coming weeks.
With the four-year anniversary of the October 2020 closing looming, all hands are on deck to meet the mandate of the fall reopening touted on the official website, MaiKai.com. We urge you to monitor the site for updates and sign up for the email list to be notified when reservations are available. You can also look for news on the official social media pages on Facebook and Instagram.
In a sign that the finish line is near, the architects leading the project said in a social media post that the firm is “eagerly awaiting the grand reopening.” According to Kravit Architectural Associates of Boca Raton: “The perfect blend of Polynesian charm and modern sophistication is almost here. From the iconic entrance to the revamped Molokai Bar, every detail has been meticulously restored to honor its rich history while introducing a fresh, welcoming atmosphere.”
An immense amount of work was completed in September, including the hiring of staff and beginning of training inside the newly built kitchen and back-of-house bars. The old kitchen, which dates back to the early 1970s when that structure was added to the rear of the vintage 1956 A-frame and guest areas, was lost when a massive storm and malfunctioning sprinkler system led to an extensive collapse of the flat roof.
Facing the unsurmountable expense of rebuilding, the founding Thornton family sold a controlling interest in The Mai-Kai in September 2021 to an ownership team led by historic preservationist Bill Fuller of the Barlington Group. Work began in earnest in early 2022, when Fuller tapped veteran theme park designer “Typhoon Tommy” Allsmiller to spearhead the meticulous restoration.
Allsmiller and his team, which includes fellow Florida artists Scott “Flounder” Scheidly and Tom Fowner, are working long hours and weekends to put the finishing touches on many outstanding projects. Conrad Teheiura Itchener also continues to contribute his artistic talents while also returning to his role as a musician in The Mai-Kai’s Polynesian Islander Revue, the oldest continually-running authentic South Seas stage show in the United States (including Hawaii).
The 2.7-acre property in the small suburb of Oakland Park has been a teeming sea of activity from morning until late in the night. Construction crews and thematic design firms toiled in the broiling summer sun to complete an ambitious reimagination of nearly every square inch of the parking lot and entryway, designed by landscape architecture firm Perry-Becker Design.
Meanwhile, ownership and management completed much of the hiring of staff and began a detailed training of more than 200 servers, hosts, bussers, cooks, dishwashers, bartenders, barbacks, and others who will become the nerve center of the 26,000-square-foot, 600+ capacity restaurant featuring seven themed dining areas and two bars.
When the construction crews go home for the day, the work continues inside with evenings dedicated to kitchen and bar staff, plus servers learning the ropes. Not everyone is a newbie, and several key managers continue to be a key part of the team: Kern Mattei and Pia Dahlquist. A second-generation manager, Mattei is now in his 31st year of leadership. Pia Dahlquist just celebrated her 34th year as the restaurant’s marketing and public relations specialist.
As it has since its early years in the 1960s, the Polynesian Islander Revue will continue to be led by show choreographer and costume designer Mireille Thornton. The matriarch of the founding family was married to Bob Thornton, taking the ownership role when he passed away in 1989. The dancers, band and emcees have been busy rehearsing at another site.
The Mai-Kai will be run by Mad Room Hospitality, which is co-owned by Fuller. Leading the effort at The Mai-Kai is director of operations Darius Green. A new chef and beverage manager have also been busy fine-tuning their menus and training staff.
Look for an upcoming story on the head bartender who has enthusiastically taken over the beverage program, which has historic roots that go back to Tiki cocktail pioneer Don the Beachcomber. You may know him for his work at several high-profile Tiki establishments across the country.
The staff is learning not only the ins and outs of the food and drink offerings, but also getting a primer on the rich history of the restaurant. The Mai-Kai has been hailed in documentaries and books, including Mai-Kai: History and Mystery of the Iconic Tiki Restaurant (2016) by Tim “Swanky” Glazner.
The massive project is more akin to a theme park opening than a restaurant. But The Mai-Kai is no ordinary restaurant. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2014 and is considered to be the last remaining example of a grand mid-century Polynesian supper club.
The artistry of The Mai-Kai will be carried forward by a new generation of artists and craftspeople. A new cocktail menu was created by California artist Eric October. New limited-edition mugs from Tiki Farm will feature designs by Florida’s Joe and Donella Vitale, plus Hawaii’s Bill Collins.
An array of colorful new merch – including prints, glassware, aloha shirts, and more – is being reverentially created by Mcbiff in his own distinctive style. Another California designer, Audrey Moorehead (aka Tee-Ki Togs), recently announced that she’ll be creating official Mai-Kai earrings, pins and magnets that will be available in the gift shop, aka The Mai-Kai Trading Post.
Beyond the new features, much care continues to be put into the restoration of many of The Mai-Kai’s historic artifacts. Some are just now being put back in place after being kept safely in storage since the roof collapse in 2020 cut off power and AC.
These include velvet paintings of South Seas wahines, some dating back a half-century or more, believed to be the work of New Zealand-born artist Eric Askew. Scheidly shared a photo on Instagram of several paintings, which he said will be covered with plexiglass before they’re reinstalled. One of the paintings being restored can be seen behind owner Bob Thornton in a photo taken in the the original Molokai bar, believed to be from the early 1960s.
Last but not least, there’s the sprawling parking lot project, imagined by the same Perry-Becker architects who worked on Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and other high-profile resort and theme park projects. On the ground, the landscaping and design work is being handled by two leaders in the field, COST of Wisconsin and BrightView Landscape Development. The coordination and teamwork going into the work is astounding. On most days, dozens of workers are on the property.
At the end of the month, Hurricane Helene uprooted a few newly planted trees and delayed some work, but caused little damage. With Hurricane Milton bashing most of Florida this week, work had to pause, but hopefully only temporarily since southeast Florida was not in the direct path.
Work should resume quickly, putting the project back on track for the planned fall reopening.
Stay tuned for more updates and official word on the grand reopening.
MORE ON THE MAI-KAI
Official sites and social media
MaiKai.com | Facebook | Instagram
More on social media
Friends of The Mai-Kai group
COMPLETE COVERAGE FROM THE ATOMIC GROG
EXCLUSIVE: The Mai-Kai Restoration Guide
Check out all the latest news, photos, video and deep details on the refurbishment and reopening of South Florida’s Polynesian Palace.
RECENT STORIES ON THE RESTORATION
Mai-Kai restoration update: Parking lot reimagination accelerates as owner targets fall reopening (June-July 2024)
Everything you need to know about the massive transformation of the grounds and landscaping of the historic restaurant, inside information and photos, plus a full recap of work completed over the past two months.
EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS: Inside the Molokai Bar and tour of The Mai-Kai restoration
Guests of The Hukilau got a rare look at the renovated and reimagined areas of the historic restaurant in June 2024.
More: The Mai-Kai sneak preview at The Hukilau
The Mai-Kai restoration work expands, sneak previews offered at The Hukilau (May 2024 update)
The $15 million project continues to engulf the 2.7-acre historic property as event passholders are treated to special tours of fully restored indoor guest areas.
The Mai-Kai reveals new images, plans for restoration at Orlando event, continues $15M project (April 2024 update)
Full coverage of the panel discussion at Tiki-a-Go-Go, including new photos and renderings of plans for the reimagination of the entry experience at the historic restaurant.
SPECIAL FEATURE
Okole Maluna Society: The Mai-Kai Cocktail Guide
Hurricane Hayward reviews and rates the historic restaurant’s current and past tropical drinks, plus reveals a treasure trove of ancestor and exclusive tribute recipes.
I had my first date here with Kay Anderson in January 1982. Wonderful memories. Fort Lauderdale is where I was born and raised. I have never had a Bucket List, but I do now. My next trip back home will include a visit to the Mai-Kai Bar & Restaurant at the top of the list.
Many great memories there!