Restaurant Spotting: Trader Vic's has a sign — and a tentative opening date

Whether it opens as an ersatz, corporate version of its former self or a bar that keeps the true flame of tiki alive, Trader Vic's in the L.A. Live complex now has signage that looks out onto Olympic Boulevard. The opening date has already been pushed back a couple of times, but the owners are hoping to launch sometime in April. At the very least, it should open sometime in 2009, which is the chain's 75th anniversary. Stay tuned.

Also on the downtown watch list: Charcoal Grill will be coming to 108 W. 2nd St., just around the alley from the Edison. Workmen finished putting up the sign today just before noon.

— Elina Shatkin

Photos by Elina Shatkin / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Scott Mercer]

Bemoaning the loss of "authentic Tiki" is ludicrous and oxymoronic. "Tiki" is BY DEFINITION inauthentic. So, whatever opens here will be "real Tiki" by definition. The only description I can see being accurate is that this is not "first wave Tiki" since it doesn't date from the mid 20th century. It is a 21st century iteration of the same, but it can't possibly be inauthentic.