Barney is back, baby!
Naah, we’re not talking about the purple dinosaur. “Big Barney,” the monolithic Moai figure, is once again towering in front of the Mai-Kai, greeting guests as they enter the Oakland Park restaurant.
Originally carved by artist Barney West, the tiki-fab titan has stood its ground since the mid-1960s. Then Hurricane Irma brought it down in 2017. But now “Big Barney II” — a 25 foot re-creation of the original — was unveiled Oct. 3 at the eatery known globally for its tropical menu, cocktails, decor and stage show featuring fire-knife dancing and Oceanian music.
“It’s exciting to finally see the new tiki here at the Mai-Kai,” manager Kern Mattei told the South Florida Sun Sentinel. “We’ve been looking forward to this moment for a long time, but seeing it standing here in person is something special. What’s been even more exciting is watching our guests’ reactions. People stop, take pictures, talk about it, and you can see the excitement on their faces. It is already becoming part of the Mai-Kai story.”
Mai-Kai kahunas will be thrilled to learn that the new Barney follows West’s original design, carved from hard foam (instead of wood), then painted and finished by artists “Typhoon Tommy” Allsmiller and Scott “Flounder” Scheidly. Big Barney II rejoins the smaller Little Barney carving on the opposite end of the property, which was also recently restored, bringing the duo back together for the first time since the hurricane.
“As an artist, you always hope your work will mean something to people, and seeing that connection is what makes projects like this so special,” Allsmiller said. “There’s something really satisfying about stepping back and seeing the finished statue in its home, knowing how much work went into bringing him back. Big Barney is more than just a sculpture. He’s a landmark, a piece of South Florida history, and part of what makes the Mai-Kai such a unique place.”
Mai-Kai mavens may also recall that a burst sprinkler pipe caused major damage, forcing the formally titled Mai-Kai Restaurant and Polynesian Show to shutter from 2020 to 2024 for a more than $20 million makeover.