About Me

Denise

"Develop a plan that is so amazing, so glowing, that you are willing to walk blurry-eyed to work everyday to make the money necessary to reach the light." Sparky

I'm a freelance journalist and crafter who dreams of starting my own business-- a hometown Tiki bar. I am a former New Orleans Bourbon Street bartender.

The tiki challenge: I must find creative new revenue streams, apart from my career.

**Five year tiki goal: $40,000**
**2009 Tiki fund goal: $2,500**
$2427.43 to go

**Total tiki money: $3,032.74**

***Savings Goals for 2009***
$10,000 into savings/ EF
$2,000 into 529 plan
$2,000 to Roth IRA
$2,620 extra college fund
$600 into new car fund
Total: $17,200

Pay $3,000 extra on student loan. Balance: $0. PAID OFF
As much as possible to IRA

***Progress Report***
$7343 savings, $2657 to go
$2200 to 529 plan, GOAL MET
$100 to Roth, $1900 to go
$400 to new car fund, $200 to go
$175 to IRA
$2,620 to extra college fund, GOAL MET

Student loan extra: PAID OFF

**Non- financial goals**
Write a novel in a month
Lose 10 pounds
Grow 100 pounds of veggies

**Progress**
0 pounds lost-- pregnant!
4 pages written
53.54 lbs. veggies grown

My Pages

Sniff, another tiki bar gone

February 3rd, 2009 at 05:13 pm

Ugh. Hubby and I are planning a tacky road trip weekend. We have always wanted to visit the Aku Tiki restaurant, which was an original 1950s tiki restaurant and bar, that was built in a bar in the middle of a farm/cornfield in Kewanee,IL. I just called tonight to find out when they are open and it turns out they are closed forever. Sniff. It was such a great place.

Now I am looking for another authentic Illinois or Indiana tiki bar to visit this weekend. It won't be the same.

Hubby said we should open a bar in a barn in the middle of nowhere. It just so happens there is a barn on his parent's land in Vermont.... got the wheels turning!

Posted in Uncategorized | 8 Comments »

8 Responses to “Sniff, another tiki bar gone”

oceansluver78 Says:
February 3rd, 2009 at 05:29 pm

awww sorry to hear that ....at least you had the good sense to call ahead! One time my and my friends crove three hours to an amusement park just to find out it closed for the season 2 days prior
mom-sense Says:
February 3rd, 2009 at 05:34 pm

There is a tiki bar in Carol Stream, IL - not sure the name of it. It isn't "authentic" so it might not qualify. Good luck finding a suitable replacement!
gamecock43 Says:
February 3rd, 2009 at 05:44 pm

A tiki bar closed? Leaves a need in the tiki bar demand for you to fill.
thriftorama Says:
February 3rd, 2009 at 06:35 pm

ocean-- Isn't that the plot of National Lampoon's Vacation? lol

mom-sense-- I think we will be heading to the Chef Shangri-La in Riverside (?) IL. It is near one of my old favorites, the Hala Kahiki in River Grove, so I may get a two-for-one tiki night on this trip.
disneysteve Says:
February 3rd, 2009 at 06:59 pm

oceansluver78, we once did that, too. I was young and my family drove up to NY to go to Palisades Park only to find out it had closed.
LuxLiving Says:
February 4th, 2009 at 11:17 am

So, can you find the owner to buy the 'good tiki stuff' for your future venture??????????????? I smell opportunity.
thriftorama Says:
February 4th, 2009 at 01:21 pm

I thought about that, Lux, but it turns out they auctioned all of the stuff off already through a no-name local auction house and then BULLDOZED the rest. I found out about it in the local paper there, because I had planned to call up the current owner and make a deal. Next time, I will try to be better prepared!
swanson719 Says:
February 5th, 2009 at 05:06 pm

You asked about a rental property on HUD's web-site... http://www.hud.gov/homes/ ... This will bring you up a state listing. Select your state, that will give you a link. Take the link, and it will let you choose all the cities in your state that you would like to see HUD owned houses in. They are always sold AS IS. HUD accepts 80% to 87% in the first 30 days - go for the 80% and if they don't take it, offer the 87%. After 30 days, they will take 70%. The longer the house is on the market, the lower they charge. Houses usually sell quick, so it's hard to tell how far they drop, but one was on for 120 days and dropped to 50% of asking.

Thrift-o-rama and the quest for a Tiki Bar

One girl's quest to shore up her personal finances and save for her own business

Sniff, another tiki bar gone

8 Responses to “Sniff, another tiki bar gone”

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