Category — Architecture

Over what exotic South Pacific village ceremony does this fearsome Tiki god tower? Are there tropical flowers, swaying grass skirts on white sand and palm leaves in the ocean breeze? Or perhaps it’s one of those fun Tiki-styled 60′s cafe’s, motels or liquor stores from the golden age of Southern California. Getting closer – maybe it was a liquor store at one time. But now this great island god holds court over gas fumes, revving engines, grease puddles, asphalt and wrenches: Mission Bay Auto Repair. View from the road (click on the photo to enlarge):

Mission Bay Auto Repair

Don’t miss the tiki design fascia too (click to enlarge):

Tiki Garage Fascia

There is an area East of Mission Bay in San Diego, along and behind Morena Blvd, that’s the home of various low-rent commercial enterprises such as furniture outlet stores, cabinet shops, cheap Chinese take-out restaurants, auto supply stores, office supply chains – you get the picture. I went down there to pick up a bag of kibbles at Petco, and swung by a Taco stand I like there – Nico’s – to nab a carnitas plate with guacamole (a rib-sticking brunch for this Working Boy). On the way out, I spot this place. Here’s another view (click to enlarge):

Mission Bay Auto Repair

Spying this sets off a chain of intense speculation in my mind: if this were once, say, a Tiki-styled liquor store, and is now an auto repair shop, what might such a building potentially become? What are the possibilities for Tikiness? All sorts of wonderful businesses and offices might replace it. The imagination spins wildly:

Tiki Dentistry: the dentist comes out in full colorful Pacific Islander costume, complete with a necklace of wild pig’s tusks around his neck, and with Island cheer he regales you and begins a Tahitian prayer chant to speed your healthful procedure. And he has you drink some strong Kava Kava from a coconut bowl, to relax you.

Tiki French Pastry Shop, with pastries that look like tiki totem poles in chocolate.

Tiki Funeral Parlor - your loved one (or their ashes) gets taken out to sea in an authentic dugout outrigger, paddled by a strong and spiritual Hawaiian dude, about 300 pounds with immense arms and a dark rich tan glistening in the Pacific sunlight as he sweats, a string of green tropical medicine leaves around his neck, singing powerfully as he rows.

Tiki Private Investigators

Tiki Civil Engineering

Tiki Betty’s Bed and Bedding

Tiki Cheese Shop

Tiki TV

Tiki Drapery and Fabric

Tiki Corporate Law Center

Tiki Gun & Ammo Outlet and Firing Range

Tiki Catholic School Oufits & Nurses Uniforms

Tiki Eye Surgical Medical Group

Tiki Nuclear Disposal Systems

I’ll just leave the rest up to you – fill in the details, or go open your own business in a Tiki building.

Have you seen this woman?

Kristine, organizer of "Cocktails in Historic Places"

Going by the name “The Cocktail Maven”, this infamous wench, this scrofulous minx, lured upwards of 30 victims into a small, dark lounge in the seamy “Stingaree” district of downtown San Diego – within the former opium den and house of prostitution named “The Quong Building” at 416 3rd Ave. – where they were subjected to hours of interesting historical stories, delicious drinks, fun conversation and camaraderie with a lively group of characters from the underworld of San Diego’s business and cultural scene.

Cornered by the Maven woman, who claimed her name was “Kristine”, I was subjected to massive warmth and personal attention I felt was undeserved. This attractive and charming red-headed female was dressed in a beautiful orange Chinese dress, and cleverly seduced me into having fun and being social. She is a wanted woman.

I was personally forced to drink two powerful margaritas, which caused me to smile, laugh, and talk uninhibitedly, engaging in pleasant conversation with total strangers, finding much common ground in our lives in San Diego (well, once I finally managed to get the barman’s attention in the din and crush of the crowd).

Next time I’ll be more alert, and arrive early for the punishment (I was late this time, and the talk about the history of the Quong Building was related only by hearsay).

According to inside sources, August’s meetup is cancelled because the Cocktail Maven has to go out of town, but no doubt more crimes will be committed in September.

A plaque on the outside of the Quong Building details the structure’s sordid past:
“The Quong Building (1913) is not only an historical structure, it has also been the site of archaeological digs. The business gets its name from Mon Yueh Quong, a businessman who operated the structure from 1889 to 1928. The building has been listed in city directories as being used as an opium den, a restaurant, and an oriental merchandise store, all during Quong’s operation. Later years saw the building used as a house of prostitution run by the infamous Mary Smith.”

A paragraph detailing the meetup group’s purpose was obtained by reading these words scratched into the walls of a prison cell: “This group is for anyone interested in the architecture and history of San Diego. The goal is to provide a comfortable social happy hour in historically significant surroundings, and perhaps increase awareness of some of the triumphs of preservationists in the San Diego area.”

Hope to see you there next time!