The recently renovated Tonga Room, an historic tiki fixture in the basement of San Francisco’s Fairmont Hotel since the 1920′s is slated for demolition now that the building has gone condo- not cool! If you’re in the SF area and want to lend your voice to saving this slice of history, there’s a meeting at Smuggler’s Cove on March 23. Here are the details as I found’em on that fabulous tiki resource, Tiki Central!
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – To all concerned San Franciscans, Tiki freaks, Dionysians and Sybarites, mid century fans, and rum aficionados; come one and come all to a gathering at Smuggler’s Cove (650 Gough St. San Francisco, CA 94102) on Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010 starting at 5:00PM to sign a petition opposing the demolition of the Tonga Room to make way for a parking garage and yet more luxury condominiums. ( Mod Betty says, “the thought makes my heart sink!”
After you sign the petition, stay a while and enjoy a fantastic rum cocktail or two while you mix and mingle with like-minded people and listen to Exotica under the soft glow of Tiki torches and beachcomber lamps. Around 6:00 PM, Chris VerPlanck and Erica Schultz of S.O.S. Tonga will provide a brief update on efforts to save the Tonga Room and exhort you to contact your local supervisors and the president of the Historic Preservation Commission, urging them to designate the Tonga Room as a local San Francisco Landmark. Mahalo!
Located at The Fairmont San Francisco, The Tonga Room has delighted guests with its tropical décor, decadent libations and Asian cuisine since 1945.
If you want to help but can’t make the meeting, also consider becoming a fan of Save The Tonga Room on Facebook.
I’m putting The Tonga Room on the Retro Roadmap as we speak and hope, with the input of concerned citizens it gets to stay there for a very long time!
The Tonga Room at the Fairmont Hotel
950 Mason Street
San Francisco, CA 94108-6000
(415) 772-5278
View CA – California Retro RoadMAP in a larger map
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The Tonga Room is right up there with the Mai Kai as the most outstanding tiki experience I ever had- to lose this would be a crime!
Rick, I know, I so totally have to get there!
We love the Tonga Room. My husband and I are the children of native San Franciscans. His parents and my parents went on dates to the Fairmont hotel with the various themed rooms. The Tonga is the only one left that is still in use. Now we bring our children. In fact, Grandpa Mooney dove into that pool during a work party in the 1950′s. It is legendary!!!
Barbara= what a cool cool story to have about Grandpa Mooney! So glad you bring folks to the Tonga, and if you hear anything about it closing etc. please keep me posted! Thanks so much for swinging by Retro Roadmap and for sharing such cool old vintage places with a new generation. That’s what it’s all about!
My Dear Retro Roadmap Readers –
In an effort to reduce comment spam by bots on my site, I’ve closed the comments on this post.
But the last thing I want to see happen is that it stops the conversation on this topic, especially if you have something you want to add!
So if you want to comment on this post all you have to do is email me at modbetty AT retroroadmap DOT com and let me know what you want to say and what post it goes with. I’ll make sure your info gets matched up and added to the conversation!
Thanks for understanding!
Your hostess, Mod Betty