There is power in a name.
I’m a big fan of rock ‘n’ roll. I like it all: punk, hard rock, classic rock, grunge, ’80s glam, and last but not least, metal. Let’s talk about the godfathers of metal—Black Sabbath.
Black Sabbath formed back in the ’60s and they’re still together. A few years ago, the original members reunited. The original line up hadn’t done this in many years. The original line up was Ozzy Osbourne on vocals, Geezer Butler on bass, Bill Ward on drums, and Tony Iommi on guitar. This was the line up for the first seven albums. Then Ozzy left the band and was replaced by Ronnie James Dio. Then Bill left. Then Geezer left. By the ’80s, the only original member of the band was Tony Iommi. He still called the band Black Sabbath, even though all his band mates left. Why?
Because there is power in a name. Black Sabbath is not only a rock band. They’re also a brand. Which do you think most people would come out to see: the Tony Iommi Band, or Black Sabbath? I think the answer is obvious.
The original Don the Beachcomber opened in the mid ’30s in Los Angeles. Then Donn Beach started opening up places all over the country. By the ’50s, you didn’t have to travel far for a Zombie. There was a good chance a Don the Beachcomber was not too far away. Then by the late ’60s, the Tiki craze started to die and Don the Beachcomber went with it.
Don the Beachcomber in Huntington Beach, CA is not a survivor from the past. It’s an homage to it. This is how the story goes…
Before it was Don the Beachcomber, it was Sam’s Seafood. Sam’s had been around for a long time and the business was sold to the new owners. They wanted to create a Tiki place that was just like Don the Beachcomber. So they got the rights to the name and went to work making what the place is today.
They did a great job! The place feels like it’s been around forever. The entire space has a worn in feeling, which isn’t a bad thing.
You step inside the lobby through a set of double doors. A picture of Ernest Gantt, a.k.a. Donn Beach, and the American flag both hang proudly on the wall…
Turn left and head toward the sounds of exotica and you’ll enter the Dagger Bar…
The Dagger bar is what a Tiki bar should be. Bamboo, Tiki statues, and thatch huts. Perfect!
The Dagger Bar even has a Tiki mug collection…
If this was all there was to Don the Beachcomber, I would be pleased and impressed. However, there is more to this place….much more!
There are several rooms to Don the Beachcomber: five in all, if you count the bar. This is the main dining room…
Check out this cool waterfall…
This is the front dining room…
And the second section…
Don the Beachcomber hosts live entertainment all the time. If you head to the back of the building, you’ll find a large room with a stage! The room is big and fills up pretty quickly, I hear!
If you make your way through a door in the back of the bar, you head through a walkway and come out to this room. It’s massive!
Don the Beachcomber sets up a Tiki Marketplace often and this room is the perfect place for that. People come to buy and sell their Tiki-wares. It’s a good place to find that perfect aloha shirt you have been looking for.
It’s safe to say that Don the Beachcomber has the decor down, but how are the drinks?
I visited with my friends Carla and Joe. We found an empty booth and made ourselves comfortable. I glanced over the menu and sure enough, all the classic Tiki drinks were represented…
I had to order the Mai Tai…
The Don the Beachcomber recipe is different than Trader Vic’s. It’s a completely different beast, but still is good.
Joe wanted to be fancy, so he ordered a Pi Yi, which comes in a pineapple…a real pineapple!
Making our drinks was Jennifer. She came over to say hello and she was kind enough to take a picture with me!
When it comes to Tiki bars, the key word is escapism. But when it comes to Don the Beachcomber in Huntington Beach, that word has to be nostalgia. The very first time I visited Don the Beachcomber, I assumed it was one of the original establishments. I didn’t realize that the building was something else until recently. They had me fooled, but I’m not complaining!
Here is the Don the Beachcomber website.
And Facebook Page.