Columbus Neighborhoods: The Kahiki Supper Club

The Kahiki immersed patrons in a world of the South Seas, complete with a tropical rainstorm, aquarium wall, tiki torches and music. Authors Elise Meyers Walker and her father, David Meyers - who, along with Jeff Chanult and Doug Motz, wrote the book "Kahiki Supper Club: A Polynesian Paradise in Columbus" - share stories about one of Columbus' most beloved former restaurants.
Photos courtesy of: David Meyers, Elise Meyers Walker, Columbus Metropolitan Library, Columbus Dispatch, Aja Miyamoto, Doug Motz, Jim Early, Grandview Heights Public Library
Historical film courtesy of: David Ettinger, Sally Stevens, Karl Jeney

[@jwilliams7554]

Growing up in Columbus it’s such a shame we’ve lost so many landmarks that made our city unique: Lazarus, Kahiki and the original Wendy’s restaurant

[@puddincup9879]

Cosi!!

[@411LED]

Along with the Dessert Inn...

[@user-uq5iu1fn7e]

IMO a shame is a very polite word that they tore down the Kahiki and the good citizens/politicians of Ohio did not band together to see that it was rebuilt. Imagine something totally unique and an absolut joy to go to in the middle of all places, Columbus Ohio in 1961! In all my years of travel and going to restaurants I have never seen even close to the like.

[@AlindaFaye2000]

The Kahiki was where I first fell in love with all things tropical decorating. That was over 45 years ago. I still love tropical decorating. I miss the Kahiki. Every time I drive by that Walgreens. I get mad.

[@x44CalLoveLetter]

Almost 28 years old and to this day nothing compares going to The Kahiki as a small child. Such an escape from the area.

[@shannono8397]

What an incredible memory. I bet it was better than disneyland :)

[@Op614Roll]

Part of C-bus literally died when this went away. People still miss it today.

[@lesleyweatherford3604]

Dad learned of this fun place while on a business trip. Thereafter, if we went to Louisville from home in Delaware, we would stop over in Columbus and eat here. I loved it.

[@angelaporto5753]

Thank you INDEED for posting this! It does bring back many happy memories. I remember going there when I was 17 years old and 18 and singing with the Sonia Modes Trio. I can’t recall ever eating in the restaurant, only being in the lounge, (with my mother, since I wasn’t of age yet.) . And after seeing this video. I wish even more that it was still open. My new husband and I went to Ohio, from our Florida home, in 2018 and we were hoping to eat there for our one your anniversary. I too, like many of you, was heartbroken to hear that it had been torn down...and of course the song line that keeps coming to mind is “they paved paradise and put up a parking lot!“

[@LaMostraVia]

I bet someone brings back Kahiki in the next 5 years 🙏🏼

[@bulldawg4498]

What an iconic restaurant ... I grew up in Columbus in the late '50's and probably ate there once, as it was on the A-list destinations for high school homecoming dining venues ... One of my wife's classmates, a drop-dead gorgeous Italian gal, worked there as the "mystery girl" ...

[@charlesvalentino5933]

Might have been my Aunt you're talking about. Was her name Barbara Valentine?

[@jeffdillon1972]

My grandmother lived directly behind the door to the kitchen of the Kahiki. I mean directly behind, only and ally and a chain link fence separated. I can remember as a kid all the wonderful aromas from the kitchen of what I thought were the most exotic foods! I’d sneak over and thru a gap in the fence to get free egg rolls from the cooks out on cigarette breaks. I really miss that place.

[@samwill226]

I moved to Columbus, Ohio from Georgia back in 1998. I moved back to Georgia for work in 2002. This place was a huge staple of my amazing experience living there. It had the most unique building, atmosphere, and food. I am absolutely heartbroken Kahiki is gone. Just so sad it didn't survive. It was a true landmark. Thank you so much for posting this. It was nice to remind myself of the amazing experience again and very thankful and lucky I got to walk through those big heads in my life to enjoy a meal. Driving by it everyday was a highlight of my commute. I don't think there was a work day that I didn't look over at it at the stop light.

[@warkisalexandropolius4505]

I celebrated my 18th birthday and had dinner here and it was my best birthday ever

[@kevinphillips4191]

believe it or not this was a cool town at one time the flames at night at kahiki and the playboy club across the street i sure do miss the 60s and 70s thank you for this video brought back sooo many memories

[@asmith515151]

Took my future wife there once in the ‘80’s and can still recall the amazing interior. Just recently bought my own Kahiki mug on eBay and now I know who made it!🙂

[@DAPortalatin]

I miss Kahiki so much!!!! It was such an incredible experience every time!!!!😀💞

[@MikeMahan-lq1oc]

Long Live The KAHIKI. What a fantastic place to eat. Thank you so much for sharing this video and history of historic tiki restaurant. I sure miss this place.

[@shannono8397]

He is SO RIGHT, it's a lesson, don't tear down these buildings. Save them. La Mariana Sailing Club in Honolulu is our protected original tiki bar. It almost was lost. The Kahiki, I have a salt shaker I bought at a flea market in honolulu. I couldn't believe the stamp on the bottom! I wish I could have seen this place, THANK YOU for such a wonderful video!!!!

[@geoffhorvath3261]

I feel sad seeing this. I grew up with this amazing building in my neighborhood. However the neighborhood is a third world toilet now. I try to avoid that place when I can.

[@chrisgoldbach4450]

@@geoffhorvath3261 dude its crazy. Im a 90s kid and it was all fine now bums thugs and trash everywhere

[@baritonebynight]

I loved this restaurant and am still not over its demise. There are those who say it lives on in the processed food line that has the name "Kahiki". It does not. The restaurant was an experience. The processed food, which was food never served in the restaurant, is unremarkable at it's very best...and inedible at its worst.

[@raytune42]

My very generous aunt Clara used to take me to this restaurant many many times. I was around 13 to 15 years old. I was a very creative kid and took in every detail of the experience. Later in life I became an architect and to this day, I feel that the restaurant had an impact on me. Now that I’m older, if I close my eyes, I can remember almost every detail as if I am building an architectural model in my head. I would happily be a part of reconstructing the next vision and interpretation of a new Kahiki. Those who had a hand in destroying it, should definitely play a major role in its reconstruction. Keep the idea alive. You never know when you plant a seed, what will become of it

[@monkeywkeys3916]

I love architecture like this. Especially modernized. How do I describe it. Smooth out some of the rough edges and create Cleaner lines. But not necessarily straight lines.

[@OhGeeWillickersMister]

@@monkeywkeys3916 Don't change anything, it's perfect, minimalism sucks and is cheap, if anything make it more intricate and twisty and detailed and complicated and rough and natural seeming

[@peterkleinhenz]

I went there for every birthday from age six to 9. I miss it a lot, but am grateful for the memories. It was such a cool place.

[@MsDana-mo9fp]

We also used to love going to the Desert Inn accross the street of Kahiki - two great restaurants.

[@HIPHOPCITIZENSHOW]

I remember this building as a kid riding with my parents through Bexely.

[@thomasmcintosh390]

My mom worked there for a year or so when I was a kid. I remember her dressed in her Polynesian uniform.

[@donaldblankenship-ph1un]

I grew up down the street and went to 1st grade on Main Street. It was a destination.

[@bf6159]

The Kahiki was an awesome place! It was larger than life as a kid, even as an adult when the place was falling out of popularity, the food was still great and the atmosphere was really cool; I still have my skull mug and Tiki glasses. I've tried their frozen food; it's OK. And yeah, the neighborhood fell, well, the whole city. While in the Navy I traveled the world. Never seen another place like the Kahiki. A new waterfront location Downtown would be grand. However, as with most things, it will be in appearance alone. Much like PaPa Joe's on Campus! There's a carbon copy with a different name, it's not even paying lipservice.

[@believeinyourself7511]

It is such a shame. I moved away back in the 80's. When I moved back to Columbus 30 years later. This gorgeous restaurant was gone.

[@mawriverbird]

This has to make a comeback. I moved to Columbus in September 2000, a month after it was dozed. I never had the pleasure of coming here.

[@shannono8397]

That is super sad. I never saw it, only in books. If you ever find yourself in Hawaii, on Oahu. 5 minutes from the Honolulu airport is La Mariana Sailing Club, Enchanting, its remained...an original tiki bar from 1955 www.lamarianasailingclub.com/?page_id=103

[@JoyRen60]

It was a beautiful place to eat.Great food too.

[@redpilledrandy8854]

Yep..I enjoyed the experience of dinning there..AWESOME

[@puddincup9879]

This place was so dope to look at. I never made it there and it sickens me.

[@moosefactory133]

I remember a friend of mine taking me there in the early 80s. It represents a different time in my life when I was healthy and young. I just wish that I taken my camera and gotten some pictures of us but at the time, I did not realize that it was anything special. It is now.

[@scarlet79225]

We went here for dinner before homecoming and prom. Wish it was still around

[@PraisingWithFriends]

I’m surprised no one has revived this yet.

[@Crisco4393]

I went there when i was 12 with my family !!!💖

[@MrManageable]

As a child in the 60s, I thought this must be what the rest of the world was like! We’ve lost so much. Just came from a party at the Continent. So sad a place.

[@BigDaddysBearCave]

Love all of this so cool!!!! #tikilife 👍😎🍹🗿🌴👌

[@Fuff63]

Enjoyed this. This place looked awesome. We need to preserve…or authentically rebuild these Tiki architectural masterpieces, all across the country. Every state has some Tiki treasure that’s been tragically demolished. Only to be replaced by something bland. That’s a shame. I believe they would be very popular today. [Phx suffered a similar loss in losing the Kon Tiki hotel]. It is now a vacant car sales lot. There are many other stories. Great vid. Cheers!

[@RCThis]

Soooooooo many fond memories of this place! It's like part of Columbus died. So sad. Dang shame!!! 😡🧡

[@fdrisgreat]

That place was so cool inside and outside. The food a wasnt that great but the architecture and design was so amazing.

[@user-io8tu7dj2l]

I used to deliver produce & some meat to them in the 80s. it was like going to a different country inside. you could see when you drove by in later years that they wasn't taking care of the outside anymore.The original Wendy's that was on East Broad Street,the white castle that they hauled to a lot across from the zoo,then to pickaway county that Mike and Frank from American Pickers stopped to see on one of the episode's.all the great places and history are going away.

[@chrisbourne6921]

PLEASE, PLEASE, BRING BACK THE KAHIKI !! WE NEED A PLACE LIKE THAT AGAIN !! There are fast food places at every corner and why do we have to be deprived of a great paradise to eat at and have to settle for crappy clown food? WE NEED THE K A H I K I BACK !!!

[@chrisbourne6921]

@Scott Bromberg I ate there in the 70s until it closed in 2000.

[@geoffhorvath3261]

@Scott Bromberg The neighborhood is a 3rd world toilet now as well. I grew up there and have since fled to Hocking Hills.

[@bakhembrutalknowledge]

@@geoffhorvath3261 Whitehall has always been a shit hole.

[@craiga2002]

Friend, if they brought it back today the "enlightened ones" would condemn it as being bourgeois fascist imperialist colonialist sexist racist cultural theft.

[@margowakefield3295]

@@craiga2002 I see your point, but it doesn't mean it can't be brought back as a cultural icon that was part of Columbus' history. All the social trappings of the 50s can be left aside. I'm sure there's a way to do it right.

[@MsDana-mo9fp]

I grew up just west of James rd & we used to go Kahiki for every occasion! Miss this place - we used to just walk there on our way to Krogers or Town & Country to just look at fish in outside ponds by front doors. There used to be a little shack to the left of door that we used to suppose who lived there.

[@A._Grey]

I worked there as a bus-boy 16years old, LOL to much fun.

[@belindafrazier9671]

I remember eating there in 1989 I was 19

[@ms.earleneb.6327]

Never went there...I do remember we were asked by radio anchors to boycott due to a discrimination law suit. 😡😡😡😡

[@loveistime8418]

I miss that restaurant

[@johndef5075]

I think I have a menu from there. I also have the moai and skull drink glasses.

[@rickster3488]

- the Kahiki used to have a store where you could buy some of their food products close to Westerville off I-270., Not sure if it's still there.

[@seritacollins7729]

Please come back

[@jessicalt4121]

It would be nice to escape to a similar restaurant like this nowadays, that Is NOT a franchise. Most restaurants look the same.

[@notyourmom516]

I Miss The Wine Cellar Sunday all you can eat brunch buffet

[@scorpioking36]

It's just absolutely insane to think they tore it down for a damn WALGREENS.....Smhh

[@Pdasilva0324]

Ate here the day I got married to my now ex wife, just a few weeks before it closed. Five years prior to that my dad's retirement party from DFAS was there but I unfortunately had to miss it as I had an important test that day in one of my classes at OSU. To add salt to the wounds the Walgreens that was built on the site? It closed earlier this year so it's just a boring and empty building now.

[@mariaalexander4303]

Why is it gone?

[@xfuriousapex]

I lived a block away for a year but never went there.

[@oni_goroshi]

the owner was friends with my dad. he told dad if they were going to rebuild it, it would cost millions and be impossible today because of zoning bullshit.

[@heartinOhio208]

went to it right before it closed...my dad and i both got food poisoning (we ordered the same dish).

[@notyourmom516]

It was in such a nice neighborhood I don't understand why they tore it down

[@MsDana-mo9fp]

The neighborhood today is bad!

[@notyourmom516]

@@MsDana-mo9fp I know I was being a smart-ass

[@davidflory3597]

SUCH A LOSS....

[@ARTSIEBECCA]

Now its a Walgreens😒

[@crownedgorrilla]

I grow up on Napoleon... And that place use to smell so bad 😅😂😅😂

[@tagereece]

Prejudice pepole there........they lied and said a black couple refused to pay and tried to leave, they called the police and they came and beat them like crazy, (them almost died, they beat them so badly), then found out they did pay and caused a riot in Columbus back in the 80's, because not one officer got in trouble for the beating, then it started going down hill from there, which after that they needed to close, plus the food wasn't that great to begin with to be honest.....IJS!!!!!

[@swone6349]

Replaced by Walgreens 😕 This should’ve never been removed. Sad how 💰 changes everything....

[@Walkrunner]

Total Ironey the walgreens that took the property just recently closed. Lost a local icon for nothing

[@jessed1586]

Whitehall became more “diverse” that’s why the neighborhood went downhill.

[@oni_goroshi]

youre right about that!

[@bakhembrutalknowledge]

Don't blame it on diversity. Whitehall has always been a shit hole.

[@emericas9]

Whitehall was full of racist and weirdos cut it out!

[@OhGeeWillickersMister]

More like Michael So-completely-sold-out. He sold out! 💔The frozen food is not very good! Other brands are better. Not worth it.