{"id":28322,"date":"2023-05-28T17:52:43","date_gmt":"2023-05-28T21:52:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.slammie.com\/atomicgrog\/blog\/?p=28322"},"modified":"2024-01-02T19:25:09","modified_gmt":"2024-01-03T00:25:09","slug":"the-mai-kai-renovations-april-2023-bora-bora-building-comes-down-as-restoration-efforts-ramp-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.slammie.com\/atomicgrog\/blog\/2023\/05\/28\/the-mai-kai-renovations-april-2023-bora-bora-building-comes-down-as-restoration-efforts-ramp-up\/","title":{"rendered":"The Mai-Kai renovations, April 2023: Bora Bora building comes down as restoration efforts pick up steam"},"content":{"rendered":"

The structural footprint of The Mai-Kai<\/A> changed dramatically last month with the demolition of the long-dormant Bora Bora building, which will pave the way for a reimagined entryway and fully immersive tropical-themed parking lot, outdoor seating area and porte-coch\u00e8re at the historic South Florida restaurant.<\/p>\n

Previous coverage<\/strong>
\n* Behind the scenes at The-Mai-Kai as restoration ramps up in 2023<\/a>
\n* The Mai-Kai officially begins work on first phase of $8.5 million renovation projects<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The Mai-Kai’s Bora Bora building on April 14 (left), two weeks before its removal. By April 29, all that remained was an empty lot on the northeast corner of the property that will be transformed into a new entry experience. (Photos by Hurricane Hayward and Kern Mattei)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Amid the ruckus outside, the restoration efforts inside the main building advanced quietly but deliberately. Creative director “Typhoon Tommy” Allsmiller and fellow Orlando-area artist Scott “Flounder” Scheidly completed the New Guinea dining room, a vintage space that dates back to The Mai-Kai’s 1956 opening. They also restored the ceiling and walls near the Tonga dining room, and by the end of the month were full immersed in the Hawaii room.<\/p>\n

Laser-focused on The Mai-Kai’s hundreds of custom lamps, they cranked out replicas and refurbished many originals created 50 years ago. After they finish, it will be impossible to tell which lamps are rebuilt and which are vintage, an over-arching theme of the restoration efforts.<\/p>\n

\""Typhoon<\/a>
“Typhoon Tommy” Allsmiller shows off a refurbished lamp at The Mai-Kai on April 25. He and fellow artist Scott “Flounder” Scheidly completed restoring all the lamps in the New Guinea dining room (right). (Photos by Hurricane Hayward)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Meanwhile, the back-of-house area was a total construction zone as crews prepared for the installation of a new bar and kitchen. Up on the roof, workers were busy sealing the main A-frame and working on new vents, along with the structures to hold the new air-conditioning system.<\/p>\n

After electrical work was done, a painting crew put the finishing touches on the men’s restroom. Electricians continued an infrastructure overhaul, preparing for the upcoming installation of a new circuit breaker system.<\/p>\n

Despite all the chaos, manager Kern Mattei managed to crank out another round of The Mai-Kai’s signature cocktail quarts and gallons to go<\/a> on April 26-27. Depending on the progress on the electrical work., which may force the shutdown of the bar’s coolers, the next chance to enjoy the classic tropical drinks may take place only at The Hukilau weekender in June.<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Photos<\/a>
Photos provided by manager Kern Mattei show the progress of work on The Mai-Kai’s soaring main A-frame. The roof was sealed to prevent leaks (left), then repainted.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Below are updates on all the work that took place in April, including video and many exclusive photos.<\/p>\n

Jump to April news and updates below<\/strong>
\n* Bora Bora Room removed<\/a> | Photo gallery<\/a>
\n* Dining rooms return to vintage glory<\/a> | Photo gallery<\/a>
\n* Work begins on new bar and kitchen<\/a>
\n* Former Molokai bar waitress remembered<\/a><\/p>\n

UPDATES:<\/b><\/span> Get the latest news and photos on our social media pages
\n* Facebook<\/a> | Instagram<\/a> | Twitter<\/a>
\nAtomic Grog blog:<\/strong> Recent social media posts, past coverage<\/a><\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
A view of The Mai-Kai from Federal Highway on April 7 after the thatching of the A-frame roofs over the rear dining rooms was completed. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It’s no surprise that April saw an acceleration of renovation work on multiple fronts. In March, The Mai-Kai officially began the $8.5 million project<\/a> after three permits cleared the way for three major projects:
\n* Repair and restoration of the porte-coch\u00e8re and thatched roofing.
\n* Removal of the Bora Bora building.
\n* Interior renovation, including a new bar and kitchen.<\/p>\n

The repairs and refurbishments became necessary after the 26,000-square-foot restaurant suffered a catastrophic roof collapse over the kitchen in late October of 2020. The plans – which include both restoring the main building and upgrading and enhancing the parking lot and back of house – became clear after the founding Thornton family<\/a> sold a majority interest to a new ownership team led by the Barlington Group<\/a> and historic preservationist Bill Fuller.<\/p>\n

The permit approvals restarted the roof thatching project in March.<\/a> By April, thatching was completed on the porte-coch\u00e8re as well as the A-frame roofs over the back dining rooms. All that remained was detailing and finishing work, which will happen later.<\/p>\n

\"Outside<\/a>
Outside under the porte-coch\u00e8re on April 14, a crew works on spackling and smoothing the wood, getting it ready to be finished. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As April progressed, The Mai-Kai applied for three new permits that will keep projects moving quickly. On April 25, the city of Oakland Park issued a mechanical permit that will allow for the installation of the new kitchen. It won’t expire until Oct. 23, which fits in with the timeline we’re hearing about a reopening coming in the fall.<\/p>\n

A mechanical permit for “fire suppression” was applied for in April, then issued in May This likely covers not only a new sprinkler system, but a fine-tuning off The Mai-Kai’s elaborate rooftop exhaust system that pulls smoke from the main showroom after the fire-dancers perform in the Polynesian Islander Revue<\/a>. Established in the early 1960s, it’s the oldest continually-running authentic South Seas stage show in the United States (including Hawaii).<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Still in review as of late May is an over-arching site development and construction permit that covers the next phase of outdoor renovations after the removal of the Bora Bora building. It covers a wide range of landscaping and hardscaping, irrigation, and electrical work that should begin soon in the entryway and parking lot. It also covers “food services” and an “outdoor bar” – which indicates that The Mai-Kai is moving full-steam ahead with plans to expand The Molokai lounge into the porte-coch\u00e8re. <\/a><\/p>\n

The permit that covered the Bora Bora Room removal, issued March 3, was extended to expire on June 30. But that extra time was not necessary as the wrecking crew moved in quickly after a company was hired to do the job in April.<\/p>\n

**************************************************<\/strong><\/div>\n
\"The<\/a>
The Mai-Kai’s “Typhoon Tommy” Allsmiller (left) and Kern Mattei discuss last-minute salvage efforts during the demolition of the Bora Bora Room on April 25. Just hours later, the historic building was flattened. (Photos by Hurricane Hayward)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE: Bora Bora Room removed, clearing way for new entrance<\/strong><\/p>\n

The removal of the 1960s building, approved Jan. 11 by the Oakland Park Historic Preservation Board<\/a>, will allow plans to move forward for a reimagined entryway and new parking lot flow.<\/p>\n

Originally a gift shop, the building was located just to the northeast of the main building, fronting Federal Highway but also accessible via a covered walkway from the porte-coch\u00e8re. But from Day 1, it was hindered by its stand-alone location, forcing guests to cross the path of vehicles entering and leaving The Mai-Kai.<\/p>\n

By the early 1980s, the gift shop had moved back under the main A-frame into a space that was previously the Bangkok dining room, where it remains to this day. For the next two decades, the Bora Bora Room was used for special events, including many weddings and other gatherings that are remembered fondly by guests.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
A view from Federal Highway of the historic 1960s-era tiki by legendary carver Barney West, before and after the April 25 demolition of the Bora Bora building. (Photos by Hurricane Hayward)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Unfortunately, the building was heavily damaged by Hurricane Wilma in 2005. It had a unique design, built off the ground to allow for elaborate water features in the front. The monster storm knocked the building off its foundation. It was determined to be very costly to fix, and also ruled off limits to guests.<\/p>\n

The hurricane caused other damage to The Mai-Kai, and repairs to the main building took priority. By the time the property was added to the National Register of Historic Places<\/a> in 2014, Bora Bora was in a constant state of decay. Upkeep was curtailed due to safety reasons.<\/p>\n

Look for an upcoming story with more details on the history of the Bora Bora building. For now, we’ll concentrate on its final days in April 2023. The first sign that its ending was near came in mid-April. That’s when the three Tiki carvings that stood near the building and greeted guests under the porte-coch\u00e8re were brought inside to ensure they weren’t damaged during the demolition.
\n* Past coverage: ‘King Kai’ leads procession of new tikis into The Mai-Kai<\/a> (2016)<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The three Tiki carvings that stand under The Mai-Kai’s porte-coch\u00e8re were stored safely inside during the removal of the Bora Bora building and adjacent water cooling tower. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward \/ April 26, 2023)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

All salvable decor had been removed during the prior months. This included wood and lava rock from the exterior. Roof and termite damage was extensive, but manager Kern Mattei and his team did a yeoman’s job saving what could be saved. As required by the preservation board, any saved pieces will be used elsewhere on the property. Some wood was already being re-used by Allsmiller while Bora Bora was still standing (see below).<\/a><\/p>\n

The demolition permit also included the removal of the giant water cooling tower that stood behind the building. A modern HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) system with multiple rooftop units will replace the outdated central system.<\/p>\n

The demolition was scheduled to begin early in the morning on Tuesday, April 25. By the time I met Mattei there shortly before 9 a.m., the water tower was already down and the excavator’s claw was crunching away on the back of the building. This continued for hours and was captured in our initial videos posted on Instagram<\/a> and Facebook<\/a> in the early afternoon:<\/p>\n

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A post shared by Jim Hayward (@theatomicgrog)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n