Same name, same food: Columbia Inn reopened

By Andrew Gomes
Advertiser Staff Writer

The two brothers who bought the Kaimuki Columbia Inn restaurant, the last in a memorable chain, have managed to keep the name and menu alive.

Brothers Thanh and Tri Nguyen reached an agreement on acquiring the Columbia Inn name and recipes from owner Kyotaru Hawaii Corp. They have reopened the Columbia Inn in the Kaimuki Shopping Center. Advertiser library photo • Aug. 13, 2001

Brothers Thanh and Tri Nguyen, who had agreed to buy the restaurant in Kaimuki Shopping Center on Wai'alae Avenue, were initially unable to reach an agreement on acquiring the Columbia Inn name and recipes from owner Kyotaru Hawaii Corp. — until recently.

Tri, through "persistence," said he was eventually able to secure the rights. The deal closed last Friday, all 58 Columbia Inn employees were rehired, and the restaurant reopened Wednesday.

"The only change was the overall owners," said their real estate broker John Haig of Commercial Locations. "They wanted to keep all the old customers coming in."

Kyotaru Hawaii opened the Kaimuki Columbia Inn in 1989 in place of another longtime eatery, King's Bakery & Coffee Shop.

Columbia Inn, with its house-specialty oxtail soup and award-winning beef stew, was co-founded 60 years ago by the late brothers Fred "Tosh" Kaneshiro and Frank "Gen" Kaneshiro.

Kyotaru Hawaii bought the franchise in 1986, but the company's Tokyo-based parent filed for bankruptcy in 1997 and was forced to close its six Hawai'i restaurants.

The landmark Columbia Inn on Kapi'olani Boulevard, which closed in January, is now empty and owned by Servco Pacific, the automotive, office products and insurance company.

Haig said expanding the Columbia Inn franchise once again is a possibility. "Nothing is considered at this time," he said, adding, "It's too early ... but I'm sure it's in the future."

Reach Andrew Gomes at 525-8065 or agomes@honoluluadvertiser.com