Tiki Huts was started in Miami in the early 80’s by Eusebio Verrier, since then they have created thousands of custom tiki huts, mostly throughout South Florida. “The raw materials like cypress trees, sabal and palmetto palms, are all around us,” says Javier Hernandez, Verrier’s right hand man for the past 15 years. The first tiki huts were built around 1450 BC by the Calusa Indians. Later, the Seminole Indians transformed the art into the structures we see today. Tiki huts are commonly called chickee huts-“chickee” is the Seminole word for home. “The biggest difference with today’s tiki huts is that we use nails and they are built as a permanent structure. The Seminole Indians built them to quickly put up and take down,” says Hernandez. Tiki Huts structures are built for life with the palm thatch lasting for seven to nine years. The advantage of a tiki hut is it’s water-tight and still creates air flow, it is always cooler under a tiki canopy.
Tiki Huts has done work in the Bahamas and even New Jersey but there seems to be endless work in Florida. Most structures can be built in one day; they average four to five tikis per week, depending on the scope of work. “In January we completed a 40’ x 50’ boat shaped tiki for the Marriott in Naples, it’s amazing,” said Hernandez. “Our motto is: You dream it, we build it,” he adds. Many locals and tourists are familiar with Tiki Huts amazing creations; they are responsible for building Hogfish Bar & Grill in Stock Island and Boondocks Grill & Draft House in Ramrod Key. Lanny Gardner, owner of Boondocks could not say enough about Javier and the crew, “They have been great to work with, I consider them friends. When I bought the business16 years ago, we tried some other people. If I had to pay Tiki Huts double, it would be worth it!” Javier enjoys meeting the clients and adds; “We are like family, it makes it great to get up and go to work.” Tiki Huts accepts all forms of payment and are a state certified thatching contractor cyc000002. They can be reached at 305-664-0099. http://www.tikihuts.com
