TS Restaurants Have Expanded Plans After Fifty Years

The family-owned hospitality group is targeting new growth in Hawaii following a half-century of operation.

Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Dining Out

Gouache-painted illustration of a weathered wooden deck overlooking a calm tropical bay at sunset. — TS Restaurants plans to expand its waterfront dining footprint across Hawaii as the hospitality group prepares for its 50th anniversary. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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TS Restaurants has announced plans to expand its presence across Hawaii as the company prepares for its 50th anniversary. The group currently operates 12 locations across Hawaii and California.

Why it matters

The company continues to focus on waterfront destination sites, a strategy established by founders Rob Thibaut and Sandy Saxten in 1975. This expansion highlights a commitment to rebuilding in Lahaina while growing the Duke's brand footprint.

TS Restaurants currently manages 12 establishments, with the Duke's brand projected to reach a total of 8 units. The original Kimo's restaurant in Lahaina, which was destroyed by fire in 2023, previously featured a seating capacity of 400.

The players

Rob Thibaut

He co-founded TS Restaurants in 1975 with the goal of creating a company centered around places where he wanted to live and work.

Sandy Saxten

He co-founded TS Restaurants in 1975 and has helped oversee the company's growth to 12 waterfront locations.

Jackie Reed

She has been a dedicated employee of TS Restaurants for 37 years.

The details

TS Restaurants operates as a family-owned entity with the founders' families maintaining a board majority. While the group prepares for upcoming openings in the Chan Wa Building and other sites, it will also see the departure of the Sunnyside Restaurant & Lodge in October 2026.

1975: TS Restaurants was established by Rob Thibaut and Sandy Saxten.
1977: Kimo's restaurant opened in Lahaina.
2023: Kimo's restaurant was destroyed by fire.
March 2026: Duke's Malibu reopened following landslide restoration work.
October 2026: Sunnyside Restaurant & Lodge departs the restaurant group.

Culture Shift

The company's expansion reflects a broader movement toward stabilizing historic hospitality brands following regional disasters. By rebuilding in Lahaina, TS Restaurants follows the pattern set by local businesses participating in the post-2023 Lahaina economic recovery efforts.

Regular patrons of the Duke's brand can expect new dining options in Kona and Oahu over the coming years as the group expands its footprint. Those who previously frequented Kimo's in Lahaina will see the brand return to the area at the new Chan Wa Building site.

The takeaway

The sustained growth of TS Restaurants underscores the viability of destination-based hospitality models in competitive coastal markets. Consumers should look for these upcoming openings to track how the company maintains its family-owned legacy while scaling its operations.

What happens next

TS Restaurants is scheduled to open a new Duke's location in Kona by the end of 2026, followed by a planned opening in Oahu in 2028, and a 50th-anniversary celebration in 2027.