Never went to the Clearwater location but have driven by many times. I lived in the Seminole area so we would visit the Madeira Beach location. In fact, my high school's prom was held there in '81. It's now a townhouse complex but they did keep some of the gardens and fountains.😎
I grew up going to the Kapok Tree 60 years ago. It was so beautiful and lots of fun. We played hide & seek through the gardens and the food was wonderful. It is such a happy memory.
@@StingrayTomsFlorida I worked part time as a drink runner. We wore name tags that listed what state we came from, which was always a conversation piece with the customers we served. There was so much to look at with the beautiful art and columns galore. The Kapok tree was always the place to bring relatives when they came into town. Eating there was like going to a event, with the gift shops, and gardens. Mothers day was the worst. Everybody was scheduled all day (10 hours), with a capacity of 1750 at one time eating. Very chaotic as it would be busy for eight hours. Good memories looking back.
That's interesting to hear. Walt Disney World didn't start putting the home state of employees in name tags until sometime in the 1990s. I wonder if they got the idea from Kapok. 10 hour days aren't easy, but I know it's not that unusual in restaurants between lunch & dinner services. Do you remember what the average turnaround time was for tables? I know I used to like to eat, but not linger at the table, since that gave more time to explore. Thanks again!
@@StingrayTomsFlorida I was impressed with the computer system they had for ordering. After taking the order the server would go to the closest station and order the food and drinks. This would print in the kitchen or the bar if drinks were ordered. It also had the seat number with the en-tree listed. The food runner or drink runner would pick up the correct meal or drinks with the ticket and go to the table with the drinks or notify the server that the dinners were on what cart to pass out. Management did always post what server had the highest per person meal average, With the food coming out quickly my guess the average table was there 90 minutes. At the Clearwater location, the female manager would always take the days cash intake , in a old huge briefcase. Then drive to a local bank and make a deposit in the drop box. Delivered drinks was always fun with the large Kapok souvenir glasses. .
Every family event happened at the Kapok Tree. We drove from Sarasota 3-5 times a year. Gosh I loved it there. You've done a beautiful job memorializing this amazing place. Thank you.
Thanks! That's great you went to both. What was you favorite part about the restaurant and do you remember any particularly interesting things that happened? I'm always collecting more info on the history of places like this.
The restaurant you mentioned that was in Fort Lauderdale! Was really in Davie Florida. And was built on defunct theme park pioneer city! Should do a video on that!
True enough. Kapok listed it in Ft. Lauderdale, so that's what I mentioned, but you're right. As for Pioneer City - Someday I probably will, though there's not a huge much of info to discuss on a place that operated less than 2 years. Thanks!
I never knew the original was in the Tampa area. When i lived in Miami as a kid, my parents would take me to the one in Fort Lauderdale. I want to go visit the old site one of these days. Thanks for bringing back great memories. :)
Thanks for sharing! I'm glad you went to the Lauderdale one - I never visited it. Yes, Clearwater was the first and the largest. Luckily much of it's still there, unlike the other 3 locations.
Thank you so much for this. I LOVED the Kapok Tree! Went several times a year when I was a kid, have the best memories there, & have never found a way to explain the experience to those who never got to visit... just too many different areas & experiences. The only common thread being the tree, grand entrance hall, & iconic planters punch glasses ;o)
I ate there in the late 60's and early 70's when we came to visit my grandparents with fond memories. Sadly, the music store is closed and I was able to walk through before it did. The building is crumbling. The owner never kept it up. Tiles coming off, ceilings were caving in. It was a mess. Hopefully someone will restore it. Everyone is worried it will get sold to developers.
I'm glad you have those memories! Yes, the place certainly needs some love and attention. We'll just have to wait and see what happens. I don't know if it's possible, but getting it registered as a National Historic Landmark might be a good idea, but that's a lot of work. It'd be good if the City of Clearwater got involved, but even with NHL status, the property would still need to be owned by someone who intended to keep it up. It's right around the corner from Ruth Eckerd Hall and the Richard B. Baumgardner Center for the Performing Arts. Imagine that facility expanding into the Kapok and bringing the Baumgardner legacy full circle.
The Peter Pan has since been fully demolished and is now a dairy queen 😢 you’re also pronouncing Urbana wrong but it’s beside the point. I appreciate this video because I actually just recently learned the Peter Pan had a sister restaurant and I was hoping to plan a visit over the summer to go check it out but read the building was closed off and now I’m hoping it’s still there at all after this hurricane
Thanks for the comments and the update on the Peter Pan! Both recent hurricanes passed far enough from Clearwater that I doubt it had any significant damage, but that's just a guess. I haven't been checking to see what's happening to the building, but hopefully it's going through a renovation process and will be used by the event company that already uses much of the building and gardens. I don't remember how I said Urbana, but sorry for the mistake.
Hello! As far as I know, there wasn't one in Sarasota. I have numerous Kapok Tree documents that represent nearly all of its operating life and the only locations listed are Clearwater, Madeira Beach, Ft. Lauderdale and Daytona Beach as well as the Peter Pan Inn in Maryland.
@@StingrayTomsFlorida Thanks. I guess I was mistaken about that then. We must have visited the one in Clearwater on the way down to Sarasota. I was about 50 years ago and my memory is not what it used to be LOL!!
Sam Ash Employees were neither friendly or understanding when we visited in 3/24. They are closing this Sam Ash location which could explain their surley demeanors, but they also had no interest or concern over what would happen to this amazing landmark when they go. Simply put, they all acted like assholes and I'm glad they are leaving. But would love to hear of any plans for the future of the building.
I'm sorry you had a bad experience there. I've never really spoken to the staff and no one had approached me. I'd guess they were used to people coming in and exploring. I wasn't aware the store was closing. I'll look into it. My guess is that the building will remain as it is, especially since the adjacent business uses the building for special events and are actively engaged in taking care of the site, including some restoration. We'll see what happens. I might contact the county representative and see what they know. Thanks for the update. I appreciate it.
My boyfriend and I ate at the Kapok Tree in Dec. 1990. By the end of the evening, he was my fiancé. :)
Awwwww. What a great story!
Never went to the Clearwater location but have driven by many times. I lived in the Seminole area so we would visit the Madeira Beach location. In fact, my high school's prom was held there in '81. It's now a townhouse complex but they did keep some of the gardens and fountains.😎
Very cool!
I live in the townhouse complex Kapok Grand in Madeira Beach where the restaurant formerly was. There are a few remnants of the restaurant still here.
I grew up going to the Kapok Tree 60 years ago. It was so beautiful and lots of fun. We played hide & seek through the gardens and the food was wonderful. It is such a happy memory.
I worked there for two years 1984-1986. Great place and great people.
Hi! Thanks for the comment - what was your job there and can you share any interesting story?
@@StingrayTomsFlorida I worked part time as a drink runner. We wore name tags that listed what state we came from, which was always a conversation piece with the customers we served. There was so much to look at with the beautiful art and columns galore. The Kapok tree was always the place to bring relatives when they came into town. Eating there was like going to a event, with the gift shops, and gardens. Mothers day was the worst. Everybody was scheduled all day (10 hours), with a capacity of 1750 at one time eating. Very chaotic as it would be busy for eight hours. Good memories looking back.
That's interesting to hear. Walt Disney World didn't start putting the home state of employees in name tags until sometime in the 1990s. I wonder if they got the idea from Kapok. 10 hour days aren't easy, but I know it's not that unusual in restaurants between lunch & dinner services. Do you remember what the average turnaround time was for tables? I know I used to like to eat, but not linger at the table, since that gave more time to explore. Thanks again!
@@StingrayTomsFlorida I was impressed with the computer system they had for ordering. After taking the order the server would go to the closest station and order the food and drinks. This would print in the kitchen or the bar if drinks were ordered. It also had the seat number with the en-tree listed. The food runner or drink runner would pick up the correct meal or drinks with the ticket and go to the table with the drinks or notify the server that the dinners were on what cart to pass out. Management did always post what server had the highest per person meal average, With the food coming out quickly my guess the average table was there 90 minutes. At the Clearwater location, the female manager would always take the days cash intake , in a old huge briefcase. Then drive to a local bank and make a deposit in the drop box. Delivered drinks was always fun with the large Kapok souvenir glasses.
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Every family event happened at the Kapok Tree. We drove from Sarasota 3-5 times a year. Gosh I loved it there. You've done a beautiful job memorializing this amazing place. Thank you.
You're welcome! Thanks for sharing.
I ate there in the early 80s, it was spectacular. Thank you for this vlog, I always wondered the history of the place.
Glad you enjoyed it! I got to eat there a few times too. And that's what I do - cover the history of Florida's tourist attractions.
Wow beauitiful cant believe people are not lined up to see this place😱
Visit it in 1977! Amazing place. Sad it is no more!
I ate in the Fort Lauderdale Restaurant in the mid 1980’s. Many happy memories. Ted P.
I grew up going to both Kapok Tree and Peter Pan, awesome video
Thanks! That's great you went to both. What was you favorite part about the restaurant and do you remember any particularly interesting things that happened? I'm always collecting more info on the history of places like this.
Went to the one in Seminole Florida when I was a teenager with my Grandmother and Aunt Helen. Interesting place.
We had our wedding reception there 35 years ago tomorrow.. Still have the complimentary glasses with the name Kapok Tree on it.👩❤️💋👨 good times
That's terrific. Happy anniversary.
The restaurant you mentioned that was in Fort Lauderdale! Was really in Davie Florida. And was built on defunct theme park pioneer city! Should do a video on that!
True enough. Kapok listed it in Ft. Lauderdale, so that's what I mentioned, but you're right. As for Pioneer City - Someday I probably will, though there's not a huge much of info to discuss on a place that operated less than 2 years. Thanks!
I never knew the original was in the Tampa area. When i lived in Miami as a kid, my parents would take me to the one in Fort Lauderdale. I want to go visit the old site one of these days. Thanks for bringing back great memories. :)
Thanks for sharing! I'm glad you went to the Lauderdale one - I never visited it. Yes, Clearwater was the first and the largest. Luckily much of it's still there, unlike the other 3 locations.
Thank you so much for this. I LOVED the Kapok Tree! Went several times a year when I was a kid, have the best memories there, & have never found a way to explain the experience to those who never got to visit... just too many different areas & experiences. The only common thread being the tree, grand entrance hall, & iconic planters punch glasses ;o)
Glad you enjoyed it! It was a great place.
My senior prom was there in 1995. Even then though, it was a music store in the front and venue space in the back.
@@MissMTurner Yes, that's the way it's been for many years, though the music store is closing.
You forgot one thing, the muffins at the Kapoc tree where the best I have ever had to this day. I was 8 or 9 I think when my parents took me
Yes I did - I don't remember them. What type(s) of muffins did they have?
I ate there in the late 60's and early 70's when we came to visit my grandparents with fond memories. Sadly, the music store is closed and I was able to walk through before it did. The building is crumbling. The owner never kept it up. Tiles coming off, ceilings were caving in. It was a mess. Hopefully someone will restore it. Everyone is worried it will get sold to developers.
I'm glad you have those memories! Yes, the place certainly needs some love and attention. We'll just have to wait and see what happens. I don't know if it's possible, but getting it registered as a National Historic Landmark might be a good idea, but that's a lot of work. It'd be good if the City of Clearwater got involved, but even with NHL status, the property would still need to be owned by someone who intended to keep it up. It's right around the corner from Ruth Eckerd Hall and the Richard B. Baumgardner Center for the Performing Arts. Imagine that facility expanding into the Kapok and bringing the Baumgardner legacy full circle.
The Peter Pan has since been fully demolished and is now a dairy queen 😢 you’re also pronouncing Urbana wrong but it’s beside the point. I appreciate this video because I actually just recently learned the Peter Pan had a sister restaurant and I was hoping to plan a visit over the summer to go check it out but read the building was closed off and now I’m hoping it’s still there at all after this hurricane
Thanks for the comments and the update on the Peter Pan! Both recent hurricanes passed far enough from Clearwater that I doubt it had any significant damage, but that's just a guess. I haven't been checking to see what's happening to the building, but hopefully it's going through a renovation process and will be used by the event company that already uses much of the building and gardens. I don't remember how I said Urbana, but sorry for the mistake.
Wasn't there a Kapok Tree Inn located in Sarasota Florida at one time? I believe that it was. Would anyone reading this know for certain perhaps?
Hello! As far as I know, there wasn't one in Sarasota. I have numerous Kapok Tree documents that represent nearly all of its operating life and the only locations listed are Clearwater, Madeira Beach, Ft. Lauderdale and Daytona Beach as well as the Peter Pan Inn in Maryland.
@@StingrayTomsFlorida Thanks. I guess I was mistaken about that then. We must have visited the one in Clearwater on the way down to Sarasota. I was about 50 years ago and my memory is not what it used to be LOL!!
@@kencabler7309 Yeah. It probably was the one in Clearwater. Thanks for the comments.
Sam Ash Employees were neither friendly or understanding when we visited in 3/24. They are closing this Sam Ash location which could explain their surley demeanors, but they also had no interest or concern over what would happen to this amazing landmark when they go. Simply put, they all acted like assholes and I'm glad they are leaving. But would love to hear of any plans for the future of the building.
I'm sorry you had a bad experience there. I've never really spoken to the staff and no one had approached me. I'd guess they were used to people coming in and exploring. I wasn't aware the store was closing. I'll look into it. My guess is that the building will remain as it is, especially since the adjacent business uses the building for special events and are actively engaged in taking care of the site, including some restoration. We'll see what happens. I might contact the county representative and see what they know. Thanks for the update. I appreciate it.