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This new Tiki Taxi is helping visitors get around Hampton Beach
"We're just trying to create a really fun atmosphere."
Hampton Beach visitors have a colorful new way to get around the beach.
Tiki Taxi, owned by Brian Sonia, made its debut on Ocean Boulevard on May 15. The six-person, five-passenger tricked-out golf cart with a thatched roof runs daily from Hampton Beach State Park to North Beach.
“I’ve got the best office view in the world,” said Sonia, a 12 year resident of Hampton Beach who has been visiting the iconic boardwalk since he was a kid.
He shuttles beach goers who are bar hopping, going out to dinner or a show, carrying items to the beach, or just looking for a stress-free way of traveling around the busy beach scene.
The career change is a dream come true for Sonia, who traveled extensively as a cigar broker for the past eight years and, before that, with Budweiser for 17 years. The near-60 year old was inspired by similar rides offered in Florida and other beach communities. However, Sonia does not give tours of the area, as his taxi is for transportation purposes only.
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“I live at the beach, I love the beach, when I’m on vacation I go to the beach,” Sonia said. “I’ve always said, ‘When I retire, that’s what I’m going to do.'”
He’s not quite retired (he’s still in the cigar business part time), but he decided to finally go for it. He was awarded a taxi permit by the town of Hampton and had a golf cart outfitted as a beach taxi. He has plans to add another Tiki Taxi so there’s no downtime while the electric vehicle is charging.
“We’ve had a nice little reception as we’ve started, so I’m pretty happy about it,” said Sonia.
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The cart has scrolling LED signs, solar torches, music, and a mascot named Tiki Pete, a totem pole perched on the back rail named during a social media contest, Sonia said.
“I will talk your ear off,” Sonia said. “I will probably sing a little bit. I don’t know if that’s good or bad. I have a sense of humor so there will be some bad dad jokes as well. We’re just trying to create a really fun atmosphere.”
Above all, Sonia said, he makes sure everyone is safe. The taxi does not operate in inclement weather and there is no alcohol allowed in the vehicle.
“We’re big into safety, you have to have seat belts on,” Sonia said. “We’re 100 percent street legal. We have to abide by all the same laws as a regular vehicle.”
The “we” is his partner Jen Drouin, Sonia’s girlfriend, who drives the taxi sometimes after her day job and runs the social media aspect of the business.
Sonia said the local police and businesses have been supportive, with the latter placing ads on the taxi.
“I look at it as something that can help get people safely from one point to another,” Hampton Police Chief Alex Reno told The Portsmouth Herald.
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The service is by appointment only. Customers can text 603-417-1817 for a ride. Fares are $5 per person between Hampton Beach State Park and Boar’s Head. Trips beyond Boar’s Head to North Beach cost $10 per person. He is open from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. daily and accepts cash, cash app, PayPal, and Venmo.
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