TikiWire: Farewell Sam's, Aloha Kona

One of SoCal's more tikirific restaurants, Sam's Seafood in Huntington Beach (open since 1960) closed in 2006, sat idle for what seemed like a couple years (gauging by chatter on the Tiki Forum), and then was threatened by condo development, all of which set the tiki community in a rum-induced outrage. Turns out the Polynesian gods were listening: New owners bought Sam's earlier this year, promised to restore its tiki past, refubished the menu, added new cocktails, new music and lots of cheap happy hour specials, which seemed to sate the fans. But now there's some hubbub over the classic sign: The restaurant is now called Kona and the neon marlin with "Sam's" in the belly will have to go. Well, at least they didn't entirely de-tikify like Trader Vic's.
· Tiki Sam's Seafood in Huntington Beach to close? [LottaLiving]
· Sam's Seafood Open [Tiki Central Forums]
· Tasting Trader Vic's Lounge [~ELA~]