UPDATED: Trader Vic’s at The Palomar in Dallas temporarily closed while undergoing renovation

So says the recording; but is the closure permanent?

DALLAS — Trader Vic's, the tiki-tiki restaurant located on the ground floor of the Hotel Palomar in Dallas, says it's closed for the next couple of weeks while it undergoes a renovation. If you call the restaurant, you get this recording:

"Thanks for calling Trader Vic's restaurant. Today is Monday January 11. We are currently closed while undergoing renovation. We are sprucing for the spring and looking forward to the new year. We are closed for approximately 2 to 2 1/2 weeks. We would ask that you check our website or continue to call our voicemail 823-0600 for any information regarding this construction and the re-opening of Trader Vic's."

Fair enough. But a follow-up phone call placed to the hotel created a vague unrest about the restaurant's prospects for re-opening. Unidentified Employee first said that there was "flooding" due to a pipe bursting during the freeze last week, and that there wasn't a sure date when the restaurant was re-opening or if it would return at all.

Waiting now to hear back from an official representative.

UPDATE: Kip Sowden from Realty America Group checks in with this status report on the venerable tiki fixtures inside TV's: "We had two burst pipes. The whole hallway between the main door and the entrance was flooded. Water came inside and messed up some of the hardwoods. But most of the tiki decorations are fine, not badly affected, I think the stuff generally was unharmed, and what WAS harmed can be repaired and fixed. We've had the insurance adjusters in to take a look and we're still in the process of determining what repairs need to be made."

The scuttlebutt at the tikiroom is that Trader Vic's as we know it is done, and that the space is likely to be converted to a new "tropical island grill" concept by Trader Vic's.

txtiki, anonymous:

Whatever renovating takes place, let's pray they DON'T TOUCH that classic decor that's been in place for 40+ years. It creates a sense of escapism that you rarely find anywhere. Destroying it would be a travesty and a huge loss to what's left of a bygone era.

2 years, 4 months ago
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Russ Vandeveerdonk, verified:

Yes, don't change anything, BUT do get some more press and activities going on there. I frequent Deux at Mockingbird Station, Trader Vics would be a great place to have dinner first then upwards to Deux Nightclub after dinner. Fun areas to visit. Dinner at Trader Vics, see a movie at The Angelika and then dance late into the night at Deux,...maybe get a room at The Palomar after it is all has been said and done!!

2 years, 4 months ago
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unklejohn, anonymous:

I agree, this location of Trader Vic's is one of the last to have the original and very rare decor and atmosphere. To let something like that go in the way of a decor that resembles "Joe's Crab Shack", would be a travesty not only to this location, but to Trader Vic's worldwide.

Dallas should be proud that they have a tropical themed place that isn't full of screaming children and a giant fiberglass shark hanging from the ceiling. You have a place where an adult can go and escape from everyday life with a drink with some friends and not be bombarded by football tailgaters, but by the soothing sounds of exotica music.

2 years, 4 months ago
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