Exotical, Downey, CA (store)

Name:Exotical
Type:store
Street:8136 E. Firestone
City:Downey
State:CA
Zip:90241
country:USA
Phone:(562) 869-0575
Website: http://www.goexotical.com
Status:operational

Description:
Exotical is a Hawaiian Apparel store located in downtown Downey, Ca. I work in Downey and drove past this place for several months before I went in. The owner is the same owner from the sixties. He makes all the clothing. In earlier times the store was bigger and he also had rattan furniture. He sold of some of the store. He only now deals in apparel. I found some of the best Hawaiian shirts. I highly recommend a visit.

[ Edited by: Bora Boris - Updated Phone # and added their website. - 2011-09-07 20:09 ]

TikiPhantom,

Thanks to posting this. I had no idea that store was still open. I have an old matchbook with an outside view of the building from the 1960s that I'll try to post later. It shows a cool stylized, curved A-Frame arch above the door and some nice muu-muus on mannikins in the windows. I'll have to make a little excursion to the real place soon.

Sabu

They have some really great shirts. I bought a couple of shirts there a few years ago. They were pretty expensive, but very nice.

Sabu, the best part is that he still use that matchbook cover for his business card. It hasn't changed one bit. I snatched up a handleful to give my buddies.

Tikiphantom

Thanks for mentioning this store, Tikiphantom. I went there today, bought a shirt, and enjoyed the atmosphere very much. They are open Tuesday through Saturday by the way. And beware: they only take cash or check. I amost didn't have enough cash. The owner said he thinks credit cards are on their way out.

Here is my Savage Renewal Topic....

EXOTICAL Hawaiian Apparel

Like the previous posters I have passed by this store in Downey California for years. Finally a year ago I decided to see what was inside and found that this store carried pretty cool Aloha Wear and all kinds of strange things from the past. What I especially like about some of the shirts they carry is the Bark Cloth Tapa prints. Anyway, today I went in to talk to the owner Paul Orloff and he has been in business for 41 years at that exact location. His store is just a small place now but years ago he owned both shops on both sides of what he has now. Paul got his start importing bamboo, making and fabricating furniture and tropical decor. Some of the people he supplied bamboo to are Eli Hedly (Bamboo Bens Grandfather), and Bob & Leroy (Oceanic Arts) a long time ago. He used to sell alot of Polynesian furniture and supplies, as well as, Hawaiian shirts, Hula wear, Luau supplies and velvet paintings. This shop is so cool to visit and explore. It is kind of like a time capsule and there still is alot of old stuff there like post cards, Hawaiian Records, paintings, lamps, coconut monkey's (for Badmojo) and furniture. Paul even still uses his old Business Cards. He also gave me an old catalog of what he used to carry when his store was bigger. I chose Exotical for my Savage Renewal project because I have hardly seen much info on this place and I think all of us Southern California Tiki Freaks would be missing out if they never went in to talk to Paul and just explore the store. I remember Sven (Bigbrotiki) briefly mentioning Exotical during his slide show at Tiki Oasis but I definitely think there is more history if you go in and talk to Paul. His store hours are 10:00am to 5:00pm Tuesday through Saturday. The phone # is (562) 869-0575 If you are planning on buying anything you should bring Cash because that all he takes. I also should warn you that most of the stuff is on the pricey side. What I highly recommend is that you pay Exotical a visit because it has been around since 1964 (41 years) I don't think it will be around forever.

Here are some Pics of his buisness card, pamphlets, old catalog, and some shots inside of the store.
(A.K.A. A Buttload of Photo's)

Later,
Spermy

EEEEeeeeeeAAAAaaaaaaOOOOooooooWWWWWwwwwWWWw

[ Edited by: The Sperm Whale 2005-09-06 20:26 ]

Awesome! Thanks so much for taking the time to create such a detailed trip report. I've been dreaming about making a visit to Exotical (and don't have a good reason why I haven't made it yet, to be honest) for so, so long. These pics more than confirm what I've been missing. Must! Go!

Spermy - that pamphlet and catalog are really priceless - I can't believe he gave those to you! Some great history there. I've got an old vintage matchbook that I'll have to post a pic of.

Sabu

[ Edited by: Sabu The Coconut Boy 2005-09-06 21:24 ]

Charles Phoenix gives his take on Exotical.

http://www.godblessamericana.com/americana-royalty-downey-ca-3-12-08/#

[ Edited by: chub 2008-05-04 11:57 ]

Apparantly, they have a new phone number...

Exotical Hawaiian Apparel
8136 Firestone Blvd
Downey, CA 90241
Phone: (562) 869-0575

It's funny that this thread got bumped the night before my first visit to Exotical.

Not much in the way of tiki apparel, but the array of aloha wear is indeed vast.

They have a good amount of slightly bizarre flotsam and jetsam in the store. And while there's no tiki on it, this piece insisted that I take it home with me. It was old and heavy and dusty, so I cleaned it up, and put a plant in it.

Thank you for reviving this thread. I can't wait to go there! I wish that they were open today. I am thinking of heading down to Bamboo Ben's today and it would make a great addition to my field trip.

I went to Exotical today...great place. They're now carrying the Tikiyaki Orchestra CD. :)

Funny, there is, like someone said...NO tiki ANYTHING in the store. I don't think it's for lack of interest, it's just that the owner is very old school and doesn't really keep up on what's going on.

So you artists guys tikis, mugs, Hawaiiana art....I would suggest you stop by and chat with the owner and his son, they may be interested in carrying some of your stuff. That place must really have been something back in the day, when it was much bigger. I don't think they really know how big a a resurgence Tiki has made in the past few years, as the owner doesn't use the internet at all.

Nice people, cool store.

Paul Orloff has gotten some signs of revived interest in the genre from Tiki archeologists over the years, so he knows about the Tiki resurgence (his prices might be a hint), but then I don't believe he thinks much about it, his neighborhood is not exactly the hotbed of the Tiki revival (then again, which neighborhood is? :) ) Often, old timers that were there at the peak, and then saw it all go downhill, are stuck in that keeping the ball low mode. With what they have seen, our little sporting effort does not really compare.

Technically speaking, Exotical is a great time warp because it is stuck in the post Tiki period, somewhere between the original craze and the Tiki revival.

This is in no way to suggest that he would not appreciate the occasional Tiki seeker's interest and enthusiasm, of course!

The Exotical is still going strong! My brother Jon and I have been running the store under our father for the last year. After 46 years, our grandfather has retired the business to us. We have a lot of great vintage Hawaiian clothing as well as some new and exciting arrivals from Hawaii. Check out our website at http://www.goexotical.com or our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Exotical-Hawaiian-Apparel/157737910978938 for more info. See you there!

On 2004-12-28 18:02, Tikiphantom wrote:
Name:Exotical
Type:store
Street:8136 E. Firestone
City:Downey
State:CA
Zip:90241
country:USA
Phone:(213) 869-0575
Status:operational

Description:
Exotical is a Hawaiian Apparel store located in downtown Downey, Ca. I work in Downey and drove past this place for several months before I went in. The owner is the same owner from the sixties. He makes all the clothing. In earlier times the store was bigger and he also had rattan furniture. He sold of some of the store. He only now deals in apparel. I found some of the best Hawaiian shirts. I highly recommend a visit.

Exotical's phone number has changed.
Phone:(562) 869-0575
We also have a website at http://www.goexotical.com and Facebook page.

On 2011-09-06 22:23, Exoticaldev wrote:
The Exotical is still going strong! My brother Jon and I have been running the store under our father for the last year. After 46 years, our grandfather has retired the business to us. We have a lot of great vintage Hawaiian clothing as well as some new and exciting arrivals from Hawaii. Check out our website at http://www.goexotical.com or our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Exotical-Hawaiian-Apparel/157737910978938 for more info. See you there!

Great to hear you are keeping the family tradition alive, that is rare! And about time for Paul to retire, I was amazed to still find him there year after year. Folks, go to this store, it is the Oceanic Arts of Aloha wear!

.... So I'm at Exotical yesterday and started small talk with Martin Orloff and told him I was Eli Hedley's Grandson. He said his dad and Eli were working on a job together at Lake Elsinore and Eli had a big canoe and paddle. They ended up sending young Martin off to sea. He said he'll never forget how much fun it was.
I wonder what job ....:wink:

Exotical posted on Facebook that they're having a huge sale.

"We've reduced the price on hundreds of men's shirts. Help us clear out these great, Hawaiian -made shirts for the new year. Now $9.99-$29.00"