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TheBuzz Erika Engle |
Original Teddy’s
Bigger Burgers eatery
moving into WaikikiTEDDY'S Bigger Burgers is moving out of its original location on Monsarrat Avenue near Diamond Head into the Waikiki Grand hotel on Kapahulu Avenue, near Kalakaua Avenue.
The new spot is to open around July 19 in the former space of a Jack in the Box, vacant since December.
"We opted not to renew our lease," said Brian Luscomb, Jack's spokesman.
"We've got three other restaurants nearby ... and those will continue operating as usual."
The new Teddy's location provided "an opportunity to move into Waikiki for not that much more overhead. It was a bit of a no-brainer for us," said Richard Stula, Teddy's partner and co-founder.
The Monsarrat store is about 1,100 square feet while the new space is about 3,100 square feet.
"I feel really good about the (area's) demographic. I don't believe we will lose any of our prized Kaimuki customers. I wouldn't have made this move if I thought for a minute we'd be inconveniencing them any more than they have been inconvenienced with the lack of parking and personal space in Monsarrat," said partner, co-founder and namesake Ted Tsakiris.
Not much build-out was required.
"Extend my thanks to Jack in the Box for leaving me a nice location ... it made the transition much smoother," Tsakiris said.
The partners have other Teddy's restaurants in Kailua, Hawaii Kai and downtown, and are viewing expansion, exploring local leases and possible licensing deals in Southern California and elsewhere, but no deal is set.
The Monsarrat space will be renamed South Shore Grill, a new upscale restaurant owned by Tsakiris. His wife, Linda Gehring, will serve as chef.
"She's got awesome credentials," Tsakiris said.
The former owner of the Kitchen and Spice Co., Gehring recently completed an 18-month gig as a private chef for the chief executive of a Fortune 500 company, among other impressive gigs.
Spa days for teens
A pilot enrichment program that got tweens and teens up and moving has sent executives into sedentary meetings at the JW Marriott Ihilani Resort and Spa.Resort officials and Colorado-based SpaKid International founder Heather Lee teamed up to present a wellness program for 11-to-18-year old children of hotel guests.
"The focus was really on physical and mental health and nutrition," said Janette Goodman, resort resident manager.
Activities from Monday night through last night included games, yoga, Zen meditation, basic hula, skin care, kayaking, a surf lesson, sports massage and a wrap- and salad-making class with Randal Ishizu, executive chef.
Daytime sessions were sparsely attended, serving an average of four participants. Evening events drew from six to 12 kids, Goodman said.
Kids and parents were surveyed and hotel officials will meet to use the survey comments to craft a more permanent program. "We have talked about having it well-defined by Christmas," Goodman said.
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Erika Engle is a reporter with the Star-Bulletin. Call 529-4302, fax 529-4750 or write to Erika Engle, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210, Honolulu, HI 96813. She can also be reached at: eengle@starbulletin.com