In the spring of 1997, Tam-Tam (aka Ching Chang) Cha-wu was introduced to the Stewart family while they were vacationing in Florida. Realizing Tam-Tam had major dreams to accomplish, they invited him to move home with them so they could help turn those dreams into reality.
So that fall, Tam-Tam and the Stewarts opened the first International Pancake & Coffee Cafe. A month later, the Tam-Tam Club was established for the growing number of Tam-Tam fans. Monthly newsletters (International Pancake & Coffee Cafe Gazette) were mailed to each club member.
In the spring of 1998, Tam-Tam Enterprises was born when its first theme park was opened to the public. International Pancake & Coffee World, based on Tam-Tam's world-famous cafe, was built on Tam-Tam's own Candy Isle and attracted nearly 300,000 visitors in its first month. Tam-Tam's Pancake Villas Resort also opened to accommodate the growing tourism industry on the island.
Within just two years, Tam-Tam Enterprises made record-breaking strides in the family entertainment business. An additional three theme parks were added to the list of attractions, as well as a dozen new cafes and six themed resorts.
What started as a small cafe has now turned into one of the world's leading entertainment giants. With its goal to entertain the family, Tam-Tam Enterprises has continued to prosper. People of all ages flock to Candy Isle annually to visit the theme parks and one-of-a-kind cafes. Adults and kids alike cherish the loveable Tam-Tam Mascots, while the resorts appeal to any interest.
There's no telling where Tam-Tam Enterprises will go in the future, but one thing is for sure: At Tam-Tam Enterprises, one item will always be at the top of the agenda – Family.
The puppet needed a name though. Nothing Amy came up with would fit such an extravagant little creature. She pondered over the name as the family entered a newer EPCOT land that offered gifts from Africa. Bright, colorful lights and loud drumming filled the air; it was the typical African drum music that Amy enjoyed. She watched the group perform and seconds later saw a sign with their name – The Tam Tams. A name was born.
As the Stewarts crossed the bridge back to China again, Amy stopped and looked at her Tam-Tam in the lamplight. Terry, her dad, was filming the landscape around her, then he focused in on the puppet. What Amy was about to do would seal the fame of Tam-Tam forever: she turned his head toward the camera and spoke for him. "Greetings, I am Tam-Tam, the Native Candy Monkey."
Months later, a dear friend of the Stewarts, David, stopped by their home to visit. He had heard of Tam-Tam, but had never had the opportunity to meet him. So, Amy brought the monkey into the living room and sit on the couch beside David. The puppet startled David as it began to move its head and smile. David instantly fell in love with its "realness".
To have a little fun, Terry came up with a pancake cafe for Tam-Tam to own. He and David would pretend it was a real cafe. In fact, it became so popular between the two that Amy and her older sister Amanda decided to create a monthly newsletter to send to David. It was a way to use their imaginations to create something fun and entertaining.
Soon, other people found out about their imaginary cafe. David told his niece about it; she also wanted to receive newsletters. Not long afterwards, Amy and Amanda decided to extend their company to include theme parks. The birth of International Pancake & Coffee World, a park to celebrate their first cafe, was born. Flap Jack, their first cartoon character, and Pancake Villas Resort, their first hotel, followed suit.
The theme park and mascot became so popular with family and friends, they decided to open even another theme park, Chinatown, to commemorate Tam-Tam's "homeland" of China. New mascots would be created each year to celebrate the Chinese New Year.
Then, the Stewarts went global with the creation of the Official Tam-Tam Club Web Site. The club had grown to include members in Kentucky, Florida, and New York and with the debut of the website it even drew interest in places such as Michigan and Ohio.
As the company grew, so too did the website. Keeping the club site, Amanda, the website designer, created an official site for the entire company. It featured pages of the theme parks, mascots, and company management.
With the interest in Tam-Tam growing (and with the fun they were having with the whole imaginary company), Amy and Amanda decided to add new characters to the mix. First was Pepe Elmono, a puppet that looks just like Tam-Tam but who wears a sombrero. Pepe became the International Consultant for the company. Then came a tiny little monkey puppet, Tut-Tut "Rocky" Jeebs (whose name was partly inspired by King Tut and WWF's The Rock). He became the Official Attractions Test Monkey, the one who test rides all the attractions to ensure their entertainment value.
Tam-Tam Enterprises may not be an actual company, but in the Stewart household and among family friends, it's just as real as Walt Disney World. Amanda and Amy (now 20 and 16, respectively) attract a few strange looks when they mention their imaginary creations, but that doesn't phase them one bit. They know their efforts might pay off someday, because their dream careers are with Disney. And with the practice they get with creating cartoon characters, theme parks, resorts, and cafes, who's to say they won't be Disney Imagineers down the road? And even though they're both busy with school (Amanda is double-majoring in Art Education and Graphic Design, and Amy is currently in high school with plans to attend culinary arts school and major in pastry arts), they still make time in their busy schedules to devote to Tam-Tam. They already have many plans in store for the imaginary company, including new resorts, cafes, theme park rides, and even more theme parks! So don't expect the company to slow down anytime soon; it's just the dawn of an [imaginary] entertainment empire!