Vince Neil’s Wild Side set to open Nov. 14

If the valley doesn't get enough treats over Halloween weekend, the soon-to-open bar backed by Motley Crue frontman Vince Neil will have one of its own to offer the town just weeks after the holiday.

Vince Neil's Tatuado Wild Side Tavern is set to open its doors to revelers Nov. 14, owner Michael Tsunis said. The tavern is a remodel of the former Valley Bar at 2101 E. Gamebird Road.

The original opening date of Nov. 1 could still be accomplished, but Tsunis said it wouldn't be the finished product that he wants to offer right off the bat.

"I don't want to give an unpolished gem, so we're going to wait until November 14 and hold a huge bash to let Pahrump know we're here," Tsunis said.

Tsunis explained that the bar is all about bringing something new and exciting to town, to give the area the big town experience in the small town setting.

"I'm trying to bring Vegas out to Pahrump," he said. "There is nothing out here like this."

The bar is set to be lined with memorabilia celebrating Neil and his accomplishments during his Hall of Fame rock n' roll career.

"We're going to have all these gold records and other Vince Neil stuff like we do at the one in Las Vegas," Tsunis said. "It's kind of like the Hard Rock, it's going to have beautifully decorated walls, all vinyled out."

The tavern will also feature four pool tables and two dart machines to add some fun activities to those enjoying the food, drink and atmosphere of the bar.

In the center of the bar there will be a 250-gallon aquarium that will feature the tavern's mascot, named after the legendary rocker whose name accompanies the business.

"We are going to have one big gigantic shark in the tank named Mr. Neil," Tsunis said.

Another animal-themed attraction at the bar will be a gigantic imitation snake that will slither on the back wall of the building brought in from Dr. Feelgoods in Miami Beach, Florida.

"So the bartenders can say 'Don't piss me off or you might upset the snake,' and smoke is going to come out his nose and stuff is going to come out of his mouth," Tsunis said.

The inside will feature a stage area for smaller acts to play and a larger two-acre outdoor area located in back of the bar is planned to be constructed where events can be pulled off with multiple, more well-known acts.

"We're going to fence it all in, and grass it in specific areas and then we're going to make it the festival grounds," Tsunis said. "We're going to have horseshoe pits back there and a stage where we'll have bands like Ratt, Slaughter and Vince Neil himself playing back here."

The festival ground is phase two of the bar and the first show is tentatively scheduled for January, with Neil playing a solo performance to kick off the area in style.

In addition to playing at the bar, Neil will hold autograph signings two to three times a year, signing the liquor products he endorses.

"Hey, come on down, Vince will sign one of his bottles, the customer will have to pay $20 for it and will get a meet and greet with Vince Neil," Tsunis said. "We'll do those for about two hours of that each time. Vince is very good at being a brand ambassador."

Neil is scheduled to be by the bar in the next few weeks to check out the progress as he is very hands-on, Tsunis said.

The progress includes new signage, which is set to go up in the next couple of weeks. This change will include removing the old Valley Bar cowboy character that locals know too well. Tsunis wants to keep the bar's roots with the area, so he has a plan for the longtime fixture above the building's exterior.

"I'm going to take him out and he's going to be in the back room as respect to the old owner of Valley Bar," he said.

Wild Side will also sell the Tatuado branded packaged liquor and Neil endorsed merchandise for visitors to take more than a memory home with them.

Craft beer will be a focus of the bar, with 15 taps being installed for those who enjoy barley and hops.

Daily deals will be a part of the Wild Side, as specials on the many beers the tavern has to offer is a tactic Tsunis hopes will draw in customers.

"We're going to be really happy hour-oriented," Tsunis said. "We'll have $2.50 drafts and $3.50 crafts to help draw the public in here."

A permanent food truck is going to be placed directly in front of the bar, offering street tacos, VInce Neil Bistro burgers and other goods, in addition to the kitchen inside the establishment.

"It's 22 feet, and it's actually going to serve as the actual sign to the street," Tsunis said. "It's going to be wrapped in a Vince Neil theme, with a TV on both sides playing Motley Crue stuff. It's going to be servicing the bar for food and at the same time servicing the street for people who might not want to come in."

Tsunis was going to hold a hiring event, but as they worked on the remodel, various bartenders and industry workers would stop in and give their resumes to Tsunis and General Manager Sherry Jimenez, so they ended up filling the nine positions in the bar quicker than they anticipated.

"The top bartenders in town are coming over," he said. "Not that I want to take anybody from other businesses, but they're coming here because they want to be a part of something that's going to be really successful and new and invigorating."

Contact reporter Mick Akers at makers@pvtimes.com. Follow @mickakers on Twitter.