Sneaky Tiki Update: Fond Memories Abound

The Sneaky Tiki Bar opened Friday, August 24, 2001
Photo (sketch) courtesy of Ryan Berry

On January 21, HottyToddy.com asked you – the Oxford and Lafayette County loyal – to submit any information or photos that you may have that either directly or indirectly relates to the 2001 Oxford establishment Blue Marlin and Sneaky Tiki Bar.

Our mission is to attempt to aid Stan Little (former owner) and Keith Sisson with their effort in assembling an archive featuring the former restaurant/bar. In that archive, they’re hoping to include photos and stories from patrons of the popular gathering place.

Correspondence on the matter has been pretty good with several folks fondly recalling the old watering hole but, regretfully, have no tangible relics from its short year of operation (why couldn’t camera phones have been invented back then?)

However, a couple of the submissions may be of use to Little and Sissons and their effort:

HottyToddy.com follower and bar manager at its opening, Ramey S. Smith, offered these facts via email:

Sneaky Tiki Bar opened Friday, August 24, 2001. The restaurant, Blue Marlin, did not officially open until the next week. The original owners were Stan Little who partnered with Shawn (can’t recall his last name). Matt Spencer came in as third partner later that Fall or early Spring 2002.

They opened a second location in Starkville in the Fall 2002, I believe. It was a disaster of a location as was its execution. They purchased a former bridal shop, totally gutted the building and remodeled and equipped it with secondhand equipment. It was located next door to a fire station and bank and there was very little parking. Customers would fill the bank parking lot and block the bank drive thru and ATMs. Customers also blocked the fire station. No parking and poor planning, along with not using demographics, doomed this location. They also built a massive Tiki Bar that, if it had been built in Oxford, everyone would be living on their own private island. Financial irregularities were the demise of the partnership and businesses.

Well… we don’t wish financial failure on anyone, but at least Starkville doesn’t have something that Oxford was unable to support.

Another HottyToddy.com follower, Ryan Berry, sent in this photograph and sketch with a short description:

Andrew Davidson Prewitt and Emily Wesley bartending at the Blue Marlin/Sneaky Tiki circa 2003
Photo courtesy of Ryan Berry

Here is a picture (below) a colleague of mine drew back then. I worked there for a few years and I loved this place and the atmosphere. It was the best bar in Oxford at the time and would be that way now if it still existed.

Photo (sketch) courtesy of Ryan Berry

As always, we thank those of you have responded and we especially thank Smith and Berry for their submissions (above) which most certainly should help in the assembly of the Tiki archive (as it has become known here at the Daily Planet).

Little and Sisson also thank you and continue to encourage readers to send any information about Blue Marlin and Sneaky Tiki Bar they may want considered for publication to hottytoddynews@gmail.com

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Jeff McVay is a staff writer and graphic designer for Hottytoddy.com. He can be reached at jeff.mcvay@hottytoddy.com.

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