Columnist Jerry Fink: Lounge owner raising the bar in Las Vegas

Friday, July 18, 2003 | 9:17 a.m.

Jerry Fink's lounge column appears on Fridays. Reach him at jerry@lasvegassun.com at (702) 259-4058.

Robbie Robinson was a marine engineer in Los Angeles when he decided to buy a watering hole in Las Vegas.

The seed was planted in Robinson's mind two years ago, when he was playing golf with some friends. Robinson, who at the time owned a second home in Vegas, was burned out and ready for a career change.

"We were shooting the breeze and I said I would like to move to Las Vegas, but I was too young to retire," Robinson, a native of England, recalled. "I said I wanted a business."

One of the golfers suggested buying a bar equipped with slot machines.

"He said I could go in three or four hours a day, two or three days a week," Robinson said. "It sounded easy."

Yeah, right.

That's how he ended up owning Club Monaco, which over the last 30 years has gone through a series of owners and names, including Fireside and Mickey's Appetizer.

It acquired its present name in 1995 when it was bought by John Monaco.

Robinson and his wife, Patti, took it over in April, but kept the name.

The club at 1487 E. Flamingo Road has been a popular hangout for locals for most of its existence.

It sits back off the road, on the south side of a lot surrounded by offices and other buildings.

People go there to unwind, relax among friends, have a drink and a bite to eat, listen to some good music and sometimes to dance.

It's a classic example of the ideal neighborhood bar, and Robinson sees no reason to make any dramatic changes to the place.

He did start a happy hour from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and 1 a.m. to 4 a.m. Mondays through Fridays, and a lunch special and a happy-hour appetizer menu.

The American menu remains the same. And the interior remains comfortably cozy.

There have been a couple of changes in entertainment. Vocalist Joanie James and pianist Don Alexander, both mainstays for several years, are gone, replaced by vocalist Dinah Hall and pianist Doug Taylor.

Taylor performs from 9 p.m. until 1 a.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. He is joined by Hall on Fridays and Saturdays.

Midnight Affair, featuring Jessica Marciel and Mike Shane, is the entertainment from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Sundays.

Robinson says Wednesdays and Thursdays are especially popular with the dance crowd, but Fridays and Saturdays are his busiest nights.

"I'm hoping to get set up so every night of the week there is entertainment," he said.

Howie Gold, part of the Las Vegas lounge scene since 1976, plays there from time to time.

"I want to bring in different types of music," Robinson said.

Though running a bar isn't as easy as it might look, nothing like the popular TV series, "Cheers," Robinson is happy with his purchase.

"We have good entertainment, a great staff and there is ambiance among the regulars," he said. "The age group of the people who come in here makes it feel like old-style Las Vegas."

Robinson is looking forward to the day when he can work those 10-hour weeks his golfing partner told him about.

"Running the club keeps me busy," he said. "But in a few months I will have it down and, hopefully, then I can reap the benefits of his advice."

Lounging around

The jazz band Steven Lee Group recently released its latest CD, "From the Ground Up." The band performs from 5 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. at Bellagio's Fontana Bar Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. The recording is available at the performances and through stevenleegroup.com.

Joy Ride will perform at the Indigo Lounge from 9 p.m. until 2 a.m. July 21 to July 22 and July 28 to July 29. The band is noted for its diversity in sounds, including Top 40, rock 'n' roll, pop, R&B, big band, funk and Latin.

Vocalist Frankie Randall can be heard at Caesars Palace's Terrazza Lounge July 18 to July 20 and July 23 to July 27.

Classic rock and Top-40 band Mystique performs at Paris Las Vegas' Le Cabaret Lounge. They may be heard from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays; 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Sundays.

"The Huck Daniels Band," a blues and show band, will be at Jerry's Nugget on Fridays, beginning tonight, and at the Stratosphere on Mondays, beginning Monday night. Show time is 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. each night.