From Newton Patch:
After decades as a landmark at Newton’s Four Corners, South Pacific has posted a sign on its door that reads:
“South Pacific has closed its doors. Thank you for your patronage all these years.”
However, there is also a sign on the door that reads “closed for renovation.”
We’ve lived in Newton for nearly 40 years and have to admit that we never once dined at South Pacific. “Polynesian” was the Chinese food of my parents, something I ran away from as soon as I could. Were we wrong? Did we miss out on something?
“Closed for renovation” almost always means gone.
What happens with the sign?
@Max– In its day, South Pacific was very successful, as was the long defunct China Sails in Chestnut Hill. Both restaurants benefited heavily from the Newton Jewish communities affinity for Chinese Food on Sundays, which effectively added a busy, third weekend night for both restaurants. I would say they were about as good as Golden Temple, but that was a very long time ago. And South Pacific has been lousy for at least the last 20 years.
@Sean– Pylon signs are like gold in a retail strip center. I’m sure that one is “grandfathered,” and likely to stay right where it is. It was a heck of a cool sign. Hasn’t been maintained for years. Which kinda brings me to one of my pet peeves. In general I think we have too many city ordinances, particularly sign ordinances. But if a commercial establishment puts up a sign, they should be required by ordinance to maintain it.
If anyone hears anything more about this, please let me/ Patch know- we’d love to have more info. FYI, one source told us that the sign needing updating (for safety reasons, I believe) was part of the reason they closed the restaurant; with diminished business and the need for an interior upgrade, as well, the owners just didn’t feel they could afford it.
The city of Newton should declare the South Pacific sign a local treasure and enact an “Eggroll Tax” to bring it back to it’s neon-glorious prime. It’s prettier than the Citgo sign and the best representation of the Tiki bar and Polynesian food era since Bob Lee’s Islander closed.
South Pacific was a great Newton institution; the place to be in the sixties and seventies. The Tiki room in the back was exotic back in the day. And the bar was well known for having the most “flexible” attitude towards hours of operation and other bureaucratic details.
It will be missed.
There are now three legends in the top tier of the Newton restaurant Hall of fame in my mind: South Pacific, Bonazoli’s Beacon and Tony’s Villa.
Terry Malloy — Hear, Hear! Whenever I drive* by it, I get that nostalgic feeling. And the historical society should buy up the scorpion bowls and little umbrellas.
Obvious Newton Issues:
— Neon lighting needs electricity (maybe we can run it with vegetable based fried wing oil?)
— The ethnic suggestion is bound to offend Newton elite
*Hi Sean!
Another to add to the Hall of Fame, Vallee’s, which was located where the Atrium is now.
Given what I’ve read here, I can’t believe we never had a bloggers party there. Terry Malloy, please explain yourself.
hey, is this the place?? >> http://tinyurl.com/newton-rest
Has the best Tiki Room!
@Hoss – that looks like Christina’s in Newton Highlands.
Gail,
The idea of having the Blogger’s party at South Pacific was briefly considered but in the end the major consideration was finding a place where the TAB editor could safely walk/crawl home.
There also was a concern that our bloggers taste is too refined to appreciate the faded Rat Pack ambiance of the South Pacific of the 2000’s. Next party should be at Lumiere or the Ritz.
So Terry does that mean the special events mechanism is gearing up?
Keep in mind that Village 14’s entertainment budget is 85 percent smaller than the Wicked Local Budget.
For those of you already missing South Pacific, a memorial fan page has arisen from the proverbial ashes (or, you know, from the smoke coming off of one of the flaming drinks):
http://www.facebook.com/#!/southpacificmemorial
Wow! Wendy thank you. The coolest FB page ever!
I wish I could take credit, but I am just a fan like all y’alls! 🙂
“Closed for Renovation” probably means they lost their lease and the landlord is turning it into a…..well, fill in the blank yourself. Needless to say a lease negotiated 20 years ago – even with escalator clauses, would not bring the revenue that the location can now bring – and which would have destroyed SP’s profitability. Who is the mean landlord who forced them out anyway? No eggroll for him one year!
Eric, the thing is- we don’t know which sign appeared first. If you look at our article on Patch, you can tell that they were probably written by different people so did they plan to renovate, then just decide that it was the wiser course to close OR did they close, someone else came in and THEY are going to renovate?
Has anyone been by South Pacific in the past week? Is anything going on inside or do any of the other merchants in that plaza know the scoop? Honestly, as the Patch food writer, it’s kind of my gig to find out these sorts of things, but I have been able to dig up ZERO info – and not for lack of trying!
Now where will Newton’s Aldermen go after lengthy legislative sessions to continue their intellectual strategizing over a flaming Scorpion Bowl? 😀
my mom went there tonight not knowing it had closed.. looked through the windows and the booths had been taken out inside was empty…