Spencecliff revives many fond memories

I agree, "Where's Hawaii?" Although I work in the travel industry & have been for over 30 years now, somewhere along the line of my career the Aloha spirit has diappeared and corperate America has taken over our beloved lands. I too was a former employee of the famous Spencecliff restaurants and I remember all the places. Tahitian lanai, Tops canterbury, Tops waikiki, Ranch house Aina Haina, South seas village, Popos, I was fortunate to work em all. That was when Hawaii was special. Now unfortunately all our businesses "no exceptions" have gone the corperate way TIME is money, and MONEY is power. Sad; NO kala, NO kuliana. Aloha!

We were a Spencecliff family and I have fond memories from my youth of many of the restaurants! I still have the Eat Beat in which my Mom was the Employee of the Month! She worked at Queens Surf, Tops, Schooner and Cocks Roost. At one time all of us held a position at a Spencecliff Restaurant; that's eight of my siblings, my Mom and my Dad! We'll get Mom to that reunion! GREAT IDEA!

I want to know if the former Donna Stockwell, Spencecliff's marketing director, will be returning for the reunion. She was a friend and colleague in those days.

Our memories of Spencecliff are from the years our father was a dishwasher at Tiki Tops in Kane`ohe. Every year we'd get a gift certificate for Christmas, and that's when we'd have dinner at Prince Kuhio's, Fisherman's Wharf, or Queen's Surf. What a treat that was.

Our favorite times, though, were at Tiki Tops where we grew up. Many a family birthday was celebrated there. We had dinner there the night I graduated from high school. I could use a Portuguese sausage burger about now.

I worked in the bakery the summer of my junior year in high school. I hated the uniform, but I loved (too much) all the goodies. That's where I learned to write on a cake.

I wish I could get to the reunion, but I have another commitment that same night. I hope everyone who does attend has a wonderful time.

Is this place like Mcdonalds?

Growing up in Niu Valley, we had numerous family dinners and baseball banquets at M's Ranch House. Coco's would be a Sunday treat. Later, I came to frequent Kelly's due to its 24 hour service and conveniently located near my work and home.

All of the employees treated you as though you were family.

Customer service was friendly and genuine, and the food was plentiful and tasty. All of these making for a truly wonderful dining experience.

I hope the plans come to fruition, and maybe the Spencecliff family can open a couple more resturants themed to combine all of the former resturants.

Good Luck!

Guess only those of us who've passed our 50th birthday have these kinds of memories. My first job in Hawai`i was working as a floater at all the restaurants. Stayed with them for nearly five years full and part-timne. Great place to work - customers, co-workers and management alike.

What about "The Beef N Grog?" Riighr on Kalakaua across the street from Bank of Hawaii. I worked there for a couple of years. It was a wild night club. The bouncer there in the early 70's beat up and killed a patron there one New Years eve. The general manager had his van bombed in the back parking lot, Copd killed a patron who left drunk and fought with them. All at the world famos Beef n Grog. On the street it was called the Barf n Gag. Good ol Spencecliff..........

After a late night out, Kellys was the last place to stop and eat before going home. One of my fond memories was our waitress, Tanya. She would always give an extra scoop of ice cream when he ordered the banana split. Kellys always used real ice cream & not soft serve type. My daughter who now lives in California, would always talk about their fried rice and crispy gau gee min, so ono! This generation will never know what Kellys resturant was like.

Dumbfounded in aiea, is what place like mcdonalds?
that words should not be uttered in the same day as Spencecliff is mentioned.

By the way, this party is also open to all those that frequented the Spencecliff restaurants, as well as the employees.

the blog
http://spencecliff.blogspot.com/

a video of the Spencecliff Legacy will be shown and available at the event.

Why not? They make betta french fries and Big Macs?

kimo wrote:

Dumbfounded in aiea, is what place like mcdonalds?
that words should not be uttered in the same day as Spencecliff is mentioned.
By the way, this party is also open to all those that frequented the Spencecliff restaurants, as well as the employees.
the blog
http://spencecliff.blogspot.com/
a video of the Spencecliff Legacy will be shown and available at the event.

miss the Bronco Bar - they had the most terrific sandwiches

Is this just for former employees or can customers attend too? I spent many nights at the **** Roost chatting it up with the bartenders and listening to the great live entertainment. Great memories!!!

Yes, open to ol' time Customers too, of the 50 + Spencecliff restaurants!

My favorite thing about Ranch House was getting to pick a toy from the Treasure Chest.

The Spencliff restaurants were charming, like Honolulu used to be, all theme based. The food was good too.

Oh! spencliff was a chinese restaurant.

cakenoodle wrote:

My favorite thing about Ranch House was getting to pick a toy from the Treasure Chest.
The Spencliff restaurants were charming, like Honolulu used to be, all theme based. The food was good too.

"Only the Hawaiian Hut is still in business."
and Fisherman's Wharf, currently undergoing much needed repairs/renovation.

Wasn't Kau Kau Korner a Spencecliff restaurant? I remember in the early 50's when I was mostly broke eating one scoop of rice with brown gravy for ten cents. Hit the spot!

Kau Kau Korner was owned by H.P. "Sunny" Sundstrom, it was in business from the 1930's until around 1960, when it was replaced by Coco's Coffee House, a Spencecliff restaurant...
a Hard Rock cafe stand there now...
http://www.downwindproductions.com/kau_kau_co... #

Man you old! Now days you cannot buy one penny for 10 cents.

Kimokeo wrote:

Wasn't Kau Kau Korner a Spencecliff restaurant? I remember in the early 50's when I was mostly broke eating one scoop of rice with brown gravy for ten cents. Hit the spot!