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Last Call THERE'LL be a commotion tonight at Shipley's with musicians as diverse as Hapa, Henry Kapono, Shawn Ishimoto a k a B.B. Shawn, Jesse Rivera and their musical friends gathering for a jam that's been the norm at the restaurant and ale house since it opened four years ago.
Shipley's is closing its doors
for good and going out with a bang,
thanks to a host of talented friends
By Nadine Kam
Star-BulletinTiny Tadani will be taping the festivities for an episode of "Tiny TV" that will air on Oceanic 16.
It's not Shipley's that's throwing the party but friends who are prepared to bid adieu to the owners of the late-night spot, and help them out of a little jam of the financial sort.
"I stayed in business a little too long," said owner Mary Ann Shipley, who still finds it hard to look at her ledgers. "It's something I don't like to look at, to add up. I could say (we owe) more than $50,000.
It's easy to find people to talk about their successes and much harder to find those willing to talk about the opposite result of running a business. But Shipley doesn't bring up the "F" word. She didn't fail in her mission "to create a friendly, family 'Cheers' kind of place. We actually achieved what we wanted to achieve."
ALOHA 'OE
What: Shipley's closing party, with Hapa, Henry Kapono, Ray Sowders and B.B. Shawn, Horizon, Keoki, Jesse Rivera and Kawika Kahiapo, and other special guests
"We" included her daughter Kristin, who served as a hostess and event planner, and son David, who was in charge of promotions.
"I just wanted a business where we could all work together and that would support us all," Mary Ann said. "And it went really well, for a little while."
"We tried to make everyone feel special and at home," said Kristin. "We've hosted a lot of musicians, artists and benefits."
Shipley's musical connection started with artists such as the Ki Ho'alu Kid, now Makana, Dennis Kamakahi and Mike Kaaawa, who were trying to build a name for themselves, playing to a few friends, family, "us and whoever was lucky enough to be here," Kristin said.
As Shipley's reputation grew as a site for comfortable, casual jam sessions, the bigger names started showing up. Hapa, the Makaha Sons, and Peter Moon came to play. Shipley's also embraced reggae bands such as Go Jimmy Go and Ooklah the Moc, and most recently had branched out to hosting Big Wednesday DJ events featuring the Stone Groove Family.
"As sad as closing will be, I'm happy to have been part of this musical family," Kristin said.
The beginning of the end came as early as 1997, when a fire closed the restaurant for three months. Although the family managed to rebuild, the restaurant reopened with an inadequate operating budget, forcing them to trim the menu and cut corners, causing some patrons to complain about skimpy portions and warm beer.
Then there was the matter of gauging the tastes of a fickle public. Shipley's opened as a specialist in microbrews, a formula that worked until "people sort of lost interest," Mary Ann said. "I sell more Bud Light than anything else right now."In January 2000, she noticed sales were sliding but still hoped for the best. Now the restaurant is for sale and she says she feels sad but relieved.
"Restaurants are interesting businesses. I had fun with it, but it's 24/7 and I'm getting tired," said Mary Ann. "It's a crisis management business. You have to deal with employees who don't show up, equipment breaking down ..."
She doesn't know what she'll be doing next, but at 56 and in debt says, "Retirement is not an option. I want to do something more low-key, less public."
Kristin, too, has been fielding offers from other bars and clubs, but says, "I think I want to do something a little more relaxing, maybe something that involves working days."
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