How a San Francisco Rum Aficionado Turned His Dreams into a Tiki Empire During an Economic Downturn

4 Min Read By Bob House

Filled with tropical themed drinks and Polynesian-inspired decor, tiki bars bring a slice of island life to the mainland. Tiki bars first rose to watering hole fame in the mid-1930s, offering a brief yet festive escape during the World War II era and quickly attracting the Hollywood elite. More than 70 years after Don’s Beachcomber Cafe first opened, tiki bars continue to be a big hit with patrons across the country.

In 2009, fresh off the tail end of the great recessions, a San Francisco bartender was betting big on the staying power of tiki bars. Martin Cate had experience in the tiki industry as a co-owner of Forbidden Island in the East Bay California town of Alameda.  Fueled by a his lifelong passion for rum and vintage tiki bars, Cate decided to sell his Forbidden Island shares to his partners and search for a location to start his very own island-inspired watering hole.

How One Man Pursued a Solo Business Venture Following the Economic DownturnCate’s success with…