Sun City Anthem restaurant reopening after two years

Saturday, July 18, 2009 | 1:50 a.m.

New manager at home at Sun City Anthem (2-27-09)
Sun City Anthem’s Trumpets could reopen soon (2-3-09)

More news from Henderson

After sitting vacant for nearly two years, Sun City Anthem’s Trumpets Restaurant is on track to reopen after the Henderson Planning Commission issued it a conditional use permit Thursday night.

The popular community-owned restaurant, located within the primary recreation center of the age-restricted community that is home to more than 10,000 residents, was shuttered in September 2007 after a judge evicted its contracted operator for failure to pay rent.

The new restaurant, which will be called Tirzo’s Bistro at Trumpets, doesn't have a specific opening date but is scheduled to open sometime this fall.

Finding a new partner to lease and operate the restaurant has been an arduous process for Sun City Anthem. Last year, a resident committee went through an exhaustive review process and selected Boulevard Gaming Group to operate the restaurant. But shortly thereafter, Boulevard withdrew its name from consideration, citing difficulties in the lease negotiation process and negative feedback from some residents regarding the proposed menu.

As the community prepares to welcome in a new operator for Trumpets, which offers a sweeping view of the Las Vegas Valley, Sun City Anthem Board of Directors President Rosalyn Berman said she is ready to welcome the restaurant back with open arms.

“It’s exciting, and I think the community is looking forward to it,” she said.

Two Sun City Anthem residents who spoke at the Planning Commission hearing, however, expressed some reservations regarding a lease provision stating that the community could not unreasonably deny a request from Tirzo’s Bistro to install gaming machines.

“(Residents) do not want gaming at this restaurant by a high margin,” resident and former Board of Directors member Bob Frank said, referring to a community survey in which 67 percent of Sun City Anthem residents said they didn’t want to see gaming machines at the restaurant.

Commissioners responded that the issue of gaming had no bearing on the question of issuing a use permit.

“The gaming issue complies with the request that has been made and that would be a lease negotiation question regarding the agreement that is in place between the tenant and the landlord,” Commission Chairman Dan Shaw said.

Board of Directors Treasurer Shirley Cheri, speaking on behalf of the board, said the provision was a standard part of the lease agreement and that there is no intent to have gaming at the restaurant.

Discussion: 9 comments so far…

By afveteran

7/18/09 at 12:11 p.m.

Suggest removal

Great. Now most of the rich old people who live in Sun City Anthem won't have to drive down the hill to get something good to eat.
By stevem

7/18/09 at 1:26 p.m.

Suggest removal

the strained peas will flow like...strained peas.
By denro

7/18/09 at 3:30 p.m.

Suggest removal

I'm thinking if they could put slots in, why would they not?
By mred

7/18/09 at 9:58 p.m.

Suggest removal

They may not be so rich anymore, their home equity has taken a dump, they are cheap as well, they will stay home and eat lean cuisine with red truck wine.
By queenie

7/19/09 at 12:44 p.m.

Suggest removal

You know - there are many of us who live up here in Anthem - and still work in Las Vegas. We are not all rich, nor do we all eat strained peas. And after a long day of driving down into LV to teach YOUR children, as I do, a nice, calm restaurant on the hill is a good thing to have. I'm sure that there are many citizens who contribute to the economy (greatly) of Las Vegas who are appreciative.
By afveteran

7/19/09 at 9:20 p.m.

Suggest removal

I think I'd rather live up here on the hill with depressed home equities than live in Las Vegas proper with depressed home equities. And who in the world would eat strained peas - - they're cattle fodder?
By Phargo

7/19/09 at 10:32 p.m.

Suggest removal

QUEENIE!!...teach my children? I see your product every day at McDonalds, if they didn't have pictures of hamburgers and fries etc. on the cash register keys, those chillun would be lost. I had a bill onetime for $6.17 and I gave the girl a ten dollar bill and 17 cents. she gave me three one dollar bills and one dollar in loose change. Sheesh!! no progress here.
By dollydeleon

7/20/09 at 1:21 a.m.

Suggest removal

Hooray !!! Go Tirzo, you are the Best in the West !!! I will make sure we go there again and will tell my friends about it.

Dolly de Leon
By superhappy

7/24/09 at 4:26 p.m.

Suggest removal

I'm so glad Sun City is able to keep this fabulous community such a secret. Few still think of us as old and rich teehee. I guess you could say that. My old man is 57 and I am 46. Living here has been a blessing. Rich you bet. Fresh air, a beautiful ride into the city to work EVEYDAY (we both do), long walks where everyone says hi including the rabbits, birds, and now we have another place to eat. Yes sometimes we are guily of using restaurant coupons but this lets us tip even more money to our fellow workers. Strained peas though...not sure what that means...although maybe they might be a nice touch for a massage...one way to keep gettin our vegetables huh. So keep thinkin those thoughts about us this way we can "ensure" that our community stays positive-ly fabulous. Welcome Tirzo...