Trader Vic’s Portland opens tonight!
After the recent rash of closures of Trader Vic's locations in Scottsdale and Chicago I'm almost overjoyed to see a new Trader Vic's location opening in Portland, Oregon.
Today is, in fact, the grand opening of the new location. And it's a beauty, loaded with tiki, but with modern sensibilities. Portland has had a Trader Vic's before, which operated from 1959 to 1996. From the postcards I've seen of the original location, the new one far surpasses it. (See photos on Facebook)
The look of the location isn't the only thing that Trader Vic's has gotten right -- it's also taking advantage of the Portland location to tap into the local talent:
- Mug-maker Munktiki has created a specialty tiki mug for TV Portland modeled after the tiki which sit outside the restaurant
- Bar manager Joshua Trapman created the "locals-only" cocktail, Admiral Nelson's Blood
And in the not-so-local but definitely cool dept., the bar hired Shag to design the location's bartender shirts.
Portland already has a strong tiki presence with Thatch, Alibi, Munktiki and B.G. Reynolds. Trader Vic's Portland just cemented it.
Update: The restaurant's Facebook page is promising "...a little extra love..." for the first 50 people in the door today. If you can make it, do so.
Visit the Trader Vic's Portland website | Become a Fan of Trader Vic's Portland on Facebook
