Comments on: Missing Heritage: Trader Vic’s

By: Ken Poole

Ken Poole — Fri, 01 Aug 2025 00:57:18 +0000

I went to Trader Vic’s for many years with my family. For Birthday celebrations, lunches and diners. I have great memories of Trader Vic’s as this is where my father with two others created West Coast Transmission BC largest supplier of Natural Gas.

By: Richard Hum

Richard Hum — Sun, 01 Dec 2024 11:05:05 +0000

My wife since deceased told me she once was flown into Trader Vic’s to perform. She used to perform up and down Vancouver island when professional trained belly dancers were a rare sight. When I was dating her we had attended a went in Saanich in mid 2000 where the TV’s location now resides. That was my only memory of it but I have always held an interest in the building since I used to design restaurants. Would love to see it revived and repurposed but from what I hear Saanich is a tough place to do anything innovative.

By: David Garris

David Garris — Mon, 13 May 2024 15:18:48 +0000

In reply to Kim Kinakin.

Hi Kim,
If you could please forward any pictures you have of the old Trader Vic’s I would appreciate it! I could send them to a Tiki magazine. There is a large community of Tiki fans who would love to see them!
Thank you, David Garris

By: Joan DeCook

Joan DeCook — Sun, 07 Apr 2024 01:51:23 +0000

i had the pleasure of dining and having cocktails at Trader Vic’s when it first opened and was fortunate enough to see first hand, the Tiki Hut and enjoy THREE “Scorpion” cocktails with gorgeous gardenias decorating them – the 60;s – when i found this site I was so happy – brings back memories – sure wasn’t much of a building when I look back on it compared to the arciture today = but my or my i felt like a queen to say the lease. Thank you so much for heritage reporting – it’s wonderful

By: Susan Mann Grad. 1960 Delbrook High

Susan Mann Grad. 1960 Delbrook High — Sat, 09 Dec 2023 07:55:12 +0000

Wow! Such wonderful memories!
My uncle and aunt borrowed the idea of having theTiki torches for their ‘Hawaiian ‘ parties . They lent such ambiance to the whole beautiful, fun scene. All from Trader Vic’s which they loved. TV really set the scene throughout many homes in Vancouver, North and West Van. Thank you for these sweet memories!

By: e. a. f.

e. a. f. — Tue, 31 Oct 2023 09:48:51 +0000

Trader Vics, it was a great place with good food, booze, and staff. The staff were impeccible. Loved the drinks. They always looked so cool. Went there in the 70s for dinner and some times just drinks after work.
The Bayshore was fun. Had a nice bar, the boats outside and the water planes. Used to drive up to the hotel, the doormen parked your vehicles for you, would walk to the water plane, and go to the Gulf Islands for the night. Be back for work the next day

Unions also used the hotel for conferences. Nice rooms. Liife was good and easy in the 1970s as a twenty something.

During the 70s there were a number of good places in Vancouver to eat and drink, It was fun and also felt safe.

By: Rob McLauchlin

Rob McLauchlin — Wed, 02 Aug 2023 18:36:44 +0000

I wonder what happened to that canoe hanging from the rafters.

By: Carlie Hachey-Davis

Carlie Hachey-Davis — Mon, 12 Jun 2023 00:43:24 +0000

In reply to Kim Kinakin. Hi! I'd love to get in contact with Dave. My family and I basically grew up at Trader Vics, would love to see it now!

By: Blair Petrie

Blair Petrie — Tue, 27 Dec 2022 21:35:58 +0000

Hi Eve,

My neighbour in Mole Hill in the 1980s and ‘90s was Paul Brady. He apparently had also been the bartender at Trader Vic’s. I’m not sure of the time frame.

He also was a veteran of Dieppe and had scars all over his back testifying to that terrible Canadian sacrifice.

Paul was soft spoken and polite and lived alone until his untimely death in the mid 1990s. He was Metis.

By: Kristy King

Kristy King — Mon, 09 May 2022 08:12:05 +0000

Thank you for sharing. My great grandfather William “Bill” Spence was the Bartender there until he passed suddenly in the mid 1960’s. He was a well dressed gentleman, so I assumed when he worked there it was a fairly classy establishment. Intresting to hear it ended up in Victoria I live in Victoria and never put two and two together until now. Would be neat to see what it looks like now.

By: Paul

Paul — Wed, 23 Mar 2022 04:20:43 +0000

Well folks , I was standing in that building today. I played the drums that were there , there was a host of musical instruments the building is well loved, far from pristine but so original , I felt soo fortunate to be in there

By: Randy Lee

Randy Lee — Thu, 10 Mar 2022 17:35:45 +0000

In reply to Calvin Lew. Calvin, I was so sorry to learn of your brother's passing. In 1971, at the age of 18, I started to work at Trader Vic's as a busboy and worked for several years. I played tennis with Jack, as well as taking him out fishing. I always wondered about him and his then wife, Marilyn. When did Jack pass away and what was the cause? Thank you.

By: steve rogers

steve rogers — Fri, 03 Sep 2021 22:58:24 +0000

In reply to Kim Kinakin. As a huge Tiki fan and member of the vast Tiki community, I would love to see your pictures and perhaps you can even send me the exact address so I can go visit him too?? Just to let him know there's a ton of people out there interested to see what it looks like today.

By: Kim Kinakin

Kim Kinakin — Sat, 31 Jul 2021 23:19:07 +0000

I just went, introduced myself to Dave, he gave me a tour, awesome guy! He’s quite the character. Its not abandoned – he lives in it! I have some photos (i would post, but this comment window doesn’t allow me to post windows) – Its amazing how much dedication he put into getting it up onto his land, he has an amazing view from the front pane windows. It basically a funky bachelor pad in the woods over-looking the ocean.

By: Darlenluchka43@gmail.com

Darlenluchka43@gmail.com — Sun, 30 May 2021 01:16:24 +0000

Why leave it abandoned?? Should renovate it

By: Una Wong

Una Wong — Sat, 06 Feb 2021 01:46:52 +0000

The article and comments make me nostalgic. My father was a waiter at Trader Vic’s for 35 years, part of their opening staff. He retired when the restaurant closed. I remember gardenias, chocolate mint squares, little plastic tiki dolls (male and female), and walking past the Bayshore lobby shops before entering the restaurant. During his time there, Dad worked split days off Wednesdays and Sundays, and daily split shifts. Except for Saturdays, he only worked the evening shift.
Thank-you for the article. It was nice trip down memory lane.

By: Linda K

Linda K — Sun, 06 Dec 2020 01:35:20 +0000

In reply to Linda.

Trader Vics was such a wonderful and fabulous place.
My husband and I went many Thursday for date night and loved everything about it. We loved the food the drinks the wonderful waiters David was our our favourite.
The appetizers crab Rangoon Mahi Mahi with macadamia nuts best Mai Tai’s.
Miss it a lot.
So glad we spent many years celebrating any occasion we could think of.
Great memories that I will never forget. Thank you for sharing the story of the building and hoping the new owners are enjoying it.

By: Calvin Lew

Calvin Lew — Fri, 23 Oct 2020 03:31:46 +0000

In reply to Eve Lazarus. My older, late brother, JACKSON, was the long time General Manager of TV until it’s closure by the Westin Bayshore. I was very close to him and we’d talk daily from wherever I was about what was going on there. His restaurant was the highest grossing of the whole chain worldwide. In my business travels throughout North America, I stopped into as many TV’s I could. The Vancouver TV was superior to any of the ones I dined in. If you’d like more information, please contact me at your convenience.

By: Ben Seghers

Ben Seghers — Thu, 22 Oct 2020 18:47:02 +0000

Thanks Nicole Chang for reminding me about the mouth-watering cheesecake at Trader Vic’s. My parents took me there several times for special dinners in the 1960s. When I graduated from UBC in June, 1967, my father’s boss took us there for lunch. When we were having our dessert, he presented me with a gold Rolex watch with my initials (BHS), degree (BSc), and the date engraved on the back! Thank you Trader Vic’s for your role in this memorable occasion.

By: Lana Austin

Lana Austin — Thu, 22 Oct 2020 18:32:05 +0000

I went there one time in the early 80’s with some girlfriend. Was amazed by everything I saw in the restaurant. I also ordered one of the drinks with the gardenia on top. thought it was so wonderful, came with a pin to wear on your jacket.