Marriott, the last of the major hotel chains did not want to be left out, so they opened a few select Kona Kai restaurants in various locations around the United States.
The Philadelphia Marriott got the flagship Kona Kai restaurant, opened in 1961, it was designed by famed Googie architectural firm Armet & Davis of Los Angeles, California.
As part of the initial planning, Armet & Davis created this architectural rendering for the interior lagoon, including a multi-tiered waterfall.
Then they created a color conceptual rendering. Note that the waterfall has been scaled down a bit, but the bridge crossing the lagoon concept remained.
After the construction was finished, the completed version turned out pretty close as to what was portrayed in the color rendering.
I loved the Kona Kai; growing up near Philly, it was often where I requested my birthday dinner to be.
ReplyDeleteDo you speak of the Kona Kai restaurant located on City Line Ave and Presidential Boulevard?
DeleteThe Mariott Kona Kai of Phildelphia, then newly opened, is featured at the very beginning of the popular TV series, Route 66, in an epidode from Dec.8, 1961, titled, "The Thin White Line". It can currently be seen on youtube. It's a very good episode, and the show's star Martin Milner's personal favorite, as well.
ReplyDeleteI have the same memories it was a special treat as a kid growing up in late '60s Philly. I remember as a child wandering around the mock up of the schooner and the lagoon rather than sit at the table and wait for the food. I still have a tiki salt and pepper shaker "borrowed" from kona Kai .
ReplyDeleteSean326
My dad was a bartender at the Kona Kai. I remember going there as a young child. I have staff pictures somewhere in my mom's stuff
ReplyDeleteHi Alice, when did your dad work there? My mom and dad met there while working in 1962.
DeleteHi Alice, I hope you see this. When did your dad work there? My mom and dad met there while working in 1962. IF it was at the same time, I wonder if you may have any pics of them as part of those staff pics.
DeleteWhat sweet memories I have of a larger than life special occasion wonderland of a restaurant as I think back to those little pink umbrellas and birthday cakes.
ReplyDeleteSpent my honeymoon in 1966 at the Kona Kai on City Line ave. My most loved memory is of the Scorpion cocktail.......it featured a real gardenia floating on it. Don't remember how the drink tasted.....just the Gardenia. I think the drink was called a Scorpion.
ReplyDeleteWe also spent our Honeymoon there on February 2, 1974! Great Memories!
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