The Happy Talk Lounge is Closed - Again

I’m sorry to report that the Happy Talk Lounge at Hanalei Bay Resort is closed - again. I realize that some of you reading this will assume it’s an old post because the lounge as been on again off again several times over the past couple of years since being purchased by Celebrity Resorts. But sadly it's true.
"Reg Marvin, with Celebrity, is on site and packing the booze up and everything is shut down," said a Joan Bettencourt, a homeowner at Hanalei Bay Resort.

For reasons that this writer doesn’t understand, Celebrity just doesn’t seem capable of running a restaurant and bar. Not that it and easy business, but with the location, view, and setting of this restaurant/bar it would seem that someone with even a little bit of restaurant know-how could make it work; and work well.

The Happy Talk, once one of the hottest spots on Kauai’s north shore was a great place to hang out, eat a burger, watch a game and listen to some of the best musicians on the island. It was hard to get a table. But for whatever reason, Celebrity hasn’t been able to make it work over the past couple of years. Yes, this is a bad economy. Yes, visitor occupancy at Hanalei Bay Resort (like the rest of Hawaii) is down, but still… people still need to unwind and listen to music right? I thought alcohol was recession proof?

Celebrity Resorts is looking to sell both the Happy Talk Lounge and the Bali Hai Restaurant. Let’s hope they do it soon. Anyone interested in owning a restaurant in paradise?