Tropic Thunder will bring tiki vibes to Roosevelt Row when it opens at 1014 N. Second Street. At the time, no opening date has been announced.
Julian Wright, CEO of Fork & Dagger Hospitality shares that the small 50-seat bar will offer a tiki experience mixed with the feel of a neighborhood dive bar. “I want people to love the vibe and the imaginative decor of a tiki bar, but I also want Tropical Thunder to be a bar with regulars.”
Wright said he’s been doing some research on tiki bars, naming classic establishments like Los Angeles’ Tiki-Ti and the Golden Tiki in Las Vegas as some of his favorites. “It’s interesting how tiki is making a resurgence,” he said, adding that the key to a good tiki bar is its ability to be transformative.
With that in mind, Wright’s goal is to design a space that’s both interesting and affordable. “Some tiki bars tend to be on the precious end, with reservations required. We’re not doing that. We want it to be very comfortable. No reservations. No time limit.” His version of the tiki bar is a mix of inspiration from his travels mixed in with a punk rock/dive bar aesthetic. In addition to murals of tigers and pin up girls, there’s a featured sticker wall, along with classic lantern lighting and zebra print barstools.
If you’re going to have a tiki bar, you need proper cocktails. Tropic Thunder will include a mix of classics such as the Painkiller, the Zombie, and the Missionary’s Downfall — along with a collection of original drinks such as the Industry Grog, an ever changing blend of rums, Amaro, and “other stuff” that’s “cooked up by the bartenders”.
There’s also an interactive cocktail called the “Tribute to Xipe Totec”, which involves sitting on the tongue of a giant skull while servers present the libation in a giant mug, swinging from a pole. “It’s kind of silly and fun. We’re going to do a maximum of one per hour,” says Wright.
In case you’re not into sipping potent potables from a ceramic skull, Tropic Thunder will serve, beer, shots, and have a full bar if you just want to enjoy a whisky soda surrounded by good friends. After all, Wright wants Tropic Thunder to be part of the neighborhood. “We’re trying to bring everyone in. Just come in and have a good time.”
