PO‘IPU — Brennecke’s is 40 years old, and to celebrate it is offering several diner benefits that carry beyond just the anniversary day.
“This is our 40th anniversary,” said Christine French, who along with husband Bob French, opened the doors to Brennecke’s for the first time in January 1984. “We’re celebrating all month with Hula Pie. We are taking this to even a year.”
Hoku Gordines, the Brennecke’s general manager, and one of the French children, said Brennecke’s is offering its popular Mai Tai’s at Happy Hour pricing throughout the month.
“And, we’re adding live music on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Fridays from 7 to 9 p.m.” Gordines said.
Gordines said that following 40 years, Bob and Christine French are turning over the enterprise, which includes the original Brennecke’s dining room, deli, activities and gift shop, and the neighboring Nukumoi Surf Shop to the children.
“When they opened after talking with George Sueoka and some friends, there was nothing,” Gordines said. “Dad used to bring his surfboard and hang it on the wall so he could go surfing, any time.”
Gordines is the general manager of Brennecke’s, sister Chef Jessica Owen is the executive chef of cooking and culinary for the main dining room and the deli that accompanied the dining room when Brennecke’s opened.
Dr. Marvin Brennecke, a well-known physician on Kaua‘i who took over the Koloa and Waimea hospitals, had a house in the spot between the Po‘ipu Beach Park and the shore break that was affectionately labeled Brennecke’s Beach.
“He was also Bob’s doctor,” Christine said. “I don’t know if that’s the reason we called the restaurant ‘Brennecke’s.’”
Rounding out the leadership team, daughter Rochelle Ballard, a renowned surfer and World Championship Tour surfer who was born a Gordines, is the resident surf pro at Nukumoi Surf Shop, the latest addition to Brennecke’s that opened at the former YMCA site, separated by a parking lot from the main Brennecke’s building.
“Dad’s still growing all the lettuce, citrus, avocado, micro greens, and more for the restaurant at his Oma‘o property,” Gordines said. “He might not be here in-person, but he’s still involved in the operation. We’re just trying to preserve the legacy of keeping it in the community Bob and Christine built that shows the importance of a family owned business. It’s important to have affordable local food.”
Brennecke’s grew from the days of being a single story cottage to its enterprise that spans more than twice the shoeprint it had when it opened in 1984. Following the wrath of Hurricanes Iwa and Iniki in 1982 and 1992, Brennecke’s grew into its lanai and second story.
Nukumoi Surf, the newest addition, was added to the Brennecke’s family post Iniki. The deli was streamlined and redone to include a Puka Dog concession that does little to diminish the line of diners waiting to have a treat on the beach.
The activities and gift shop welcomes diners to the main Brennecke’s dining area, teasing diners with locally made jewelry utilizing seeds of commonly known plants that are on the verge of becoming rare due to its pesky nature.
Through the 40 years of its life, diners are treated to a chronicle of the Bob and Christine French’s family growth through the myriad of photos pasted on the walls of the stairway leading to the second story.
“I gotta go now,” Bob French said. “I have to pick up a guest at the airport, and they’re cutting the grass.”
