SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW –VEGAS IS ROCKIN'!
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LEGENDARY SUNSET STRIP INSTITUTION
THE RAINBOW BAR & GRILL'S SECOND LOCATION ON PARADISE ROAD IN LAS VEGAS IS THE CITY'S NEW HOTSPOT WHERE LOCALS, TOURISTS, CONVENTIONEERS, AND—OH YEAH—ROCK STARS AND CELEBRITIES ALL PARTY TOGETHER
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Opened in 2005 and Owned By Famed Music Industry Executives Jerry and Bob Greenberg, The Rainbow Bar & Grill Las Vegas Boasts Everything That Mario Maglieri's Legendary 34-Year-Old Sunset Location Is Famous For, Including A World Famous Menu And A Casual, “No Snobs” Attitude
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Recent Celebrity Sightings Include Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, Robert Plant, ZZ Top, Smash Mouth, Alice In Chains Drummer Sean Kinney, Pantera Drummer Vinnie Paul And Vegas Institution, Singer Clint Holmes
Blissfully, thanks to the cool and hip, trendy and sexy influx of legendary Los Angeles based institutions, Las Vegas is no longer in danger of becoming just another family-happy Disneyland. First was Hollywood hot dog haven Pink's, which is now serving its famous dogs in the Aladdin's Zanzibar Café. Then, hipster Beauty Bar began offering martinis and manicure demonstrations downtown. Now, Sunset Strip icon Rainbow Bar & Grill has landed on Paradise Road, across from the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.
When the show's over, Las Vegas' Rainbow Bar & Grill is where the headliners mingle with their fans, mirroring the explosive synergy that would happen at Mario Maglieri's 34-year-old original location when legendary rockers like Led Zeppelin, Alice Cooper, Deep Purple, Fleetwood Mac, Van Halen, Guns ‘n' Roses, Motley Crue, Bon Jovi, Poison, Ratt, Cinderella, Marilyn Manson, White Zombie and Black Sabbath showed up.
From 5 p.m. to 6 a.m. every night, the legendary vibe of the original institution—including a blessed “no snobs” attitude, warm, inviting atmosphere and no velvet rope/VIP hassles—comes alive at the wildly popular new, year old location, a truly “must experience” place where tourists, locals, conventioneers, rock stars and celebrities all party together.
You'll see them in the exact replica of the Sunset Strip restaurant's Red Room, which includes the famed Lita Ford and Motorhead picture on the wall. Or in the oversized lounge, in the Green Room, on the patio, or just roaming from room to room over the very spacious 7,500 square feet. Jerry Greenberg , co-owner of Vegas' Rainbow with brother (and fellow industry veteran) Bob Greenberg , is a famed music industry executive who started his career as a drummer. In the 70s, he became the youngest ever major label president with Atlantic Records. Naturally, then, the restaurant has photos on the walls of famous rock drummers, from Keith Moon to Ringo to Bonzo. The green room, in fact is a tribute to drummers.
Recently, Alice In Chains drummer Sean Kinney was there signing the “Drumhead of Fame” and Pantera drummer Vinnie Paul had dinner and drinks before hanging up his snare drum in the green room.
The word is out, thanks in part to word of mouth and Las Vegas Weekly's designation of the Rainbow as “Best Bar Off The Strip.” Or maybe it was another tastemaking publication's rave that it's the city's “best place to see celebrities.” Then again, it was probably being chosen as the “Best Place to See Famous People After They've Been Drinking” in Las Vegas Life's 2005 Vegas 100 issue.
They must be referring to Paris or Lindsay. Robert Plant and ZZ Top. Hey, even Clint Holmes—a Vegas institution who has been headlining at Harrah's for years—stopped by to pick up one of the Rainbow Bar & Grill's famous pizzas. And members of the band Smash Mouth came in for a bottle of vodka and pizzas.
The head chef Ernie is also a major attraction, replicating the Sunset Strip location's menu with Mario's famous chicken soup and pizza recipe. And keeping it “all in the family,” Mario's granddaughter Marlo Maglieri—who started working with her grandfather as an 18-year-old bartender at the original location—is GM of the Rainbow in Vegas.
And those cool, only at The Rainbow photos (Ozzy reading the paper on a toilet, an eviction notice served to Guns N Roses before Axl and the boys made it big) don't hurt.
Not that Jerry Greenberg is spreading or publicizing the celebrity quotient; he wants everyone, not just the movers, shakers and beautiful people, to feel right at home at the Rainbow. “We're not just trying to be the place where the rich and famous go, but we want them to know they can come here and hang out and be treated properly,” he says. “We have extra security to make sure no one is hassled, but everyone's generally very cool and respectful. Since we opened in June of 2005, we've become the place everybody knows to come to when they want to hang out after dancing at Pure or Tao till 4 a.m. If they're still hungry, they can come in for breakfast or a snack. There's no other place in Vegas you can walk into and hear Guns N Roses, the Stones, Audioslave and Korn on 15 video screens while enjoying food and drinks!
“It's a lot like the original Rainbow on Sunset, where people came over after a show down the block at The Whisky A Go Go (which was also owned by Maglieri),” Greenberg adds. “Now we're the place to go after the shows across the street at the Hard Rock. Bob, myself and our great staff are dedicated to providing the same great courtesy, service and food that Mario has given people in L.A. for years.”
The Rainbow on Sunset was always a favorite place for Greenberg—later well known as president and CEO of Michael Jackson's MJJ Music from 1993 to 2000--to hang with all of the acts he worked with on Atlantic (Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones, Foreigner, Genesis, CSNY, Eric Clapton, et al), especially after big concerts. He and Bob approached their longtime friend Maglieri a few years ago with the idea of creating a joint venture to open a new location in Las Vegas.
“He did his homework and knew we would keep the tradition!” laughs Greenberg. “I have my own independent record company, but I was always looking beyond just being a music executive and to open a place like this. I own the rights to a lot of shows I'm working on getting into major hotels in Vegas, and as I was spending more time here, I realized there's no real hangout for rock and roll people. The heck with it, I thought, let's open a club!
“Mario gave us a license and we searched for a year to find a suitable location,” he adds. “We lucked out when the space across from the Hard Rock became available. In just over a year, we've become the equivalent to what the Rainbow became on Sunset. All the bands and locals show up, we've got great food, and we're rolling. Honestly, Bob and I never expected it to take off this fast. But with its success, we're thinking globally. I own the Rainbow name worldwide, and we're talking about possibly opening new locations in Orlando, London and Japan. We're a mini-Hard Rock in the making.”
The Rainbow Bar & Grill holds a gaming license, which means people visiting the bar are coming to drink and eat, dance and mingle, and can play video poker, keno, or black jack all night long. The interior features concert lighting, a small stage for live entertainment, bar seating, table service and a V.I.P. dining lounge.
Major staff members at Las Vegas' Rainbow Bar & Grill include Marketing/Entertainment Manager Mark Hornsby , Director of Operations Steve Rothman , and Manager Ziggy Pawlowski .
