The Golden Owl Awards are Vancouver’s nightlife awards, and Inclera was proud to become 2016’s Fintech Sponsor. After the champagne bottles have popped and the confetti has hit the floor, we’re still celebrating the biggest movers and shakers of the hospitality industry.
Today, the Inclera team chatted with Rod Moore, owner of the Shameful Tiki Room, and arguably the classic cocktail and tiki king of Vancouver.
Business Name: Shameful Tiki Room
Award: Best Cocktail Experience
Locations: Main Street, Vancouver; Parkdale, Toronto
Ethos: Bringing style and culture from a bygone era back to cocktail and dining enthusiasts. Experience expertly crafted vintage cocktails (or experience the Mystery Bowl) and share plates in authentic vintage décor.
Rod opened the first Shameful Tiki Room in November of 2013, following the launch of his successful retail store, The Modern Bartender. The Modern Bartender sells everything cocktail enthusiasts need to make premium cocktails – save the alcohol. From classic glassware and stir-sticks to garnishes and bitters, you’ll find everything you need to set up an impressive mid-century cocktail cart. It seemed a natural fit for him to open an authentic tiki bar next.
What inspired you to open the first Shameful Tiki Room in Vancouver?
I became a bit of a tiki culture nut over the years leading up to it. Previously I owned a sporting goods store, but as I became more immersed in tiki and vintage cocktail culture, I became inspired to open a true tiki bar in Vancouver. The fact that this city had nothing like it made it even easier.
What inspires you in this city, or beyond?
My inspiration comes from the historical element of what we do, as well as some of the old locations still operating in other parts of the world.
We fully agree – some of the greatest hospitality experiences are the classics! Vancouver is notorious for its fast turnover of older establishments though, and running a restaurant here is difficult – what keeps you motivated?
Running a resto/bar is difficult in many ways, but in our case I think we’ve figured out the primary difficulties. Our location is good, we have a handle on payroll, and our rent is fair. Our products and service are very good, so we’re pretty busy most nights. My motivation is straight forward – I love the culture, and very much want to continue offering it to the city as authentically as we can.
What is your wildest dream for the future of the Shameful Tiki Room?
After going to Toronto to build and open my second location, I was left wondering what’s next. I would consider opening another location, but I would love to try a variation on a franchise model – providing the consulting and design inspiration to another owner.
We know it’s like picking a favourite child, but if you had to say – what’s your favourite cocktail on the menu?
The Navy Grog. It’s a Don the Beachcomber creation, dating back to the mid-forties. Very dry, a tad tart and quite strong; it’s not only my favorite, but many of my friends as well!
If it wasn’t 10am, we’d ask you to mix us up a sample! So one final question, just for fun – where’s your favourite cup of coffee in the city?
I will drink coffee from anywhere and do so, which makes me a bad one for this question!
So in short, come to the guy for cocktails, stay for the atmosphere – not the coffee.
Visit the Shameful Tiki Room in Vancouver or Toronto, and stop by the Modern Bartender in Vancouver or online for the perfect holiday gift for the budding bartender in your life.
Inclera is proud to support the best and brightest of the hospitality industry. Keep watching our blog as we chat with other businesses that are shaping the future of hospitality.
Interested to learn more about Inclera? Then check out this and this blog posts or drop us a line below.