11 Comments
Apr 13, 2022Liked by Addison Del Mastro

Kiki Rio was a dive bar in the 70’s & 80’s called “The Longhorn Saloon”.

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Apr 13, 2022Liked by Addison Del Mastro

Being right next to a transit stop may not be as favorable as it may first seem. There's an "unlucky" spot in my hometown right across from the subway, and I think people would rather walk a block or two and not have to watch the stream of commuters outside the window. Could be stress-inducing!

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Apr 13, 2022·edited Apr 13, 2022Author

That's really interesting. Could be! Kind of like how when I worked in downtown DC, I didn't have much interest in daytripping into the city.

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There was a spot like this in my small hometown, on the main road and across the street from a diner that has lasted for decades. Maybe the restaurants were all too fancy for the town at the time? The location is now a bank.

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This idea of an unlucky restaurant gave me an idea for a horror movie based around such a restaurant a while ago.

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I lived in the area in the mid '90's and your comments brought me back to that time. Very much spot on. Keep up the great work.

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Kiki Rio was the Long Horn Saloon first for many years, which was very successful. The Old West themed door handles are still there in its current incarnation - Harper’s Table.

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Apr 13, 2022Liked by Addison Del Mastro

The cursed location phenomenon is well known in the industry around the world. Lots of different explanations. In China I have seen the phenomenon be reversed many times with assistance of feng shui masters by changing of the entrance door and or restrooms. Not a lot of “hard proof” there but worth investigating further.

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My guess at least for the a couple of these is that they're just in the middle of empty stretches of road, so they probably don't get many impulse customers. One of them is also set far back from the road, so you don't really see it. Maybe that combined with not being near any other businesses.

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Oh wow! I didn't know what it was before that. I love how some little detail like the handles can persist over such a long time. I guess it fit really well with the Old West BBQ!

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We went to Long Horn every week from probably 1985 until whenever it closed. I think there was a fire of some kind between Long Horn and Kiki Rio.

Later on my father named a new swimwear line after the Mexican restaurant. Like the restaurant, it did not have longevity.

www.kikirio.com

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