Launching the newest concept at the MGM Grand at Foxwoods in Mashantucket, Conn., the operators of Scorpion Bar were looking to create an edgy but friendly rock ’n’ roll haven, complete with 100 tequilas, great live and DJ format music and a serious pull for industry-employed locals. Principal owner Randy Greenstein decided to develop, in his words, a “mixed connotation” with his Sunday night industry party.
“We call it True Religion, which has a broad meaning,” he says. “Sure, you have Sunday, which is normally a religious day, but then we also decided to bring in the designer jeans label True Religion and put all of our staff in those jeans.”
He contacted the outlet store in his area, and they agreed to discount their Joey line of jeans for the employees from more than $200 a pair to just $99. Each staff member was required to purchase one pair, and several women working at Scorpion were thrilled to get the jeans at less than half price, Greenstein says.
For the industry Sunday party, all tequila bottles are half price for anyone with a badge from another property bar, and the $5 cover only applies to men.
“We don’t have a marketing agreement with True Religion or anything, so we are not using the logo. However, we would like to do fashion shows in the future with them at the bar,” Greenstein continues.
To add to the fun, the female staff get on top of the bar to dance in their recognizably trendy attire, and five of the cocktails are priced at $5 instead of the regular $8. Greenstein only wants to continue the drink deals, including the half-priced tequila bottle service, for as long as necessary.
“We had about 200 people our first night doing this in June. Our capacity is around 280. So as this becomes more and more popular, I will slowly weed out the drink specials to avoid losing money on those. They will remain until this is considered ‘the’ party to attend and the specials are [no longer] necessary to draw the crowd.”