Business Monday: Tommy Bahama opening 15th Marlin Bar in Waikōloa

Since 2008, Tommy Bahama CEO Doug Wood has been bringing his family to the Big Island for vacations, with regular stops in Waikōloa to check out the shops at Queens’ Marketplace and to daydream about one day opening a Marlin Bar in one of the shopping area’s vacant buildings.

While the nearly 6,940-square-foot building fronting Waikōloa Beach Drive into the resort area looked like it was a business establishment from the outside, Wood said it was never occupied and had dirt floors.

“I’ve been walking around this location for 15 years, and have been wondering why no one has done anything with it,” Wood said. “It was probably hard to get someone who wanted to invest there, but if you do something great, people will come.”

Wood believes his company has done just that.

The vacant building has been transformed into a Tommy Bahama Marlin Bar, including a retail space that opened on Oct. 20. The casual full-service restaurant and bar, with indoor dining and a spacious outdoor lanai, will begin welcoming customers on Wednesday.

This will be the 15th Marlin Bar location nationwide.

Wood said Tommy Bahama has a “phenomenal” sit-down restaurant in Mauna Lani, and wanted to create an eatery that catered to families in Waikōloa.

“The Marlin Bar is a little more casual and a little less expensive,” Wood said. “It’s purposely meant to be more casual. I keep telling my restaurant team that the kids’ menu is just as important as the adult menu.”

The island-inspired menu at the Marlin Bar, located at 69-201 Waikōloa Beach Drive, Suite A-1, will feature locally sourced produce, fresh seafood, and fan favorites such as coconut shrimp and ahi tuna tacos. It also will have tropical cocktails and local microbrews.

Shareable food items will range from $17 to $24 and include steak and Hāmākua flatbread, macadamia nut and pesto flatbread and ahi tuna poke.

The entrée menu ranges in price from $25 to $27 and includes items like blackened mahi mahi tacos and Hawaiian hot honey chicken sandwich.

The space includes a retail store with Tommy Bahama men’s and women’s sportswear, activewear and swim collections, as well as home entertaining and décor items.

There is currently a Tommy Bahama retail store at the Kings Shops, across from Queens’ Marketplace, but Wood said he “really wanted to bring food and beverage to the area.”

With the opening of the Queens’ Marketplace location, Wood said, they will close the Kings Shops retail store and move staff to the new location, where 15 to 20 people are employed.

“I think the minute people drive down to Waikōloa, you will not be able to miss us,” Wood said. “There will be a sense of excitement. It brings a nice energy.”

Queens’ Marketplace, which was built in 2007, was bought in 2019 by commercial real estate company Alexander & Baldwin.

Jordan Brant, senior vice president of leasing for the real estate company, said since Alexander & Baldwin acquired Queens’ Marketplace, they’ve been looking to find the right business to take over the vacant spot, which is visible from Waikōloa Beach Drive as guests enter the resort area.

Brant first learned about Wood’s interest in the space in 2021. The goal was always to find a retailer or restaurant that could draw visitors and residents to the shopping center, which he believes they have found with Tommy Bahama.

“I look at the Tommy Bahama Marlin Bar as a game changer,” Brant said. “I felt that they have such a strong track record in owning and operating stores in resort markets. They build out such beautiful stores and restaurants, and it was brand recognition.”

Brant said the real estate company is excited about the wave activity in the area and offering a new dining destination.

Tommy Bahama Marlin Bar will be open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. with happy hour from 3 to 5 p.m.

Retail store hours Sunday through Thursday are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The company is currently hiring for front- and back-of-house positions.

Tommy Bahama owns and operates more than 160 Tommy Bahama retail locations worldwide, 28 of which offer a Tommy Bahama Restaurant, Bar & Store location or a Tommy Bahama Marlin Bar. With the opening at Queens’ Marketplace, there will be four restaurant-retail locations in Hawai‘i, including three Tommy Bahama Restaurant, Bar & Store locations in Waikiki, Wailea and Mauna Lani.

Learn more at http://www.tommybahama.com.