The first time I visited Vegas was in 1975, and The Sand Dollar Lounge opened the following year. Although a lot of life happened until I was finally able to visit Sand Dollar, it was worth the wait. I’m a Motown, jazz, blues, and (crazily) classic music aficionado. Anyone who visits loves the down-home feeling of Blues, Jazz, and old-time Rock that found a home at The Sand Dollar. Metal, Hard Rock, and Rappers need not apply.
Well, last Friday night, I met with a few friends and some random people not only to enjoy the great little band Chicago Joe Blues Band (Facebook) but also to cheer on our good friend Bordeaux Bob, who stepped in later to sing and strum. Bob, as his nickname may indicate, is an expert on Bordeaux – not just the city, but especially the wine. He’s a distributor as well as “the” authority. And he’s a musician!
Bob, being 6’8″ (or so), isn’t exactly petite, but, as my late grandmother would say, “a tall drink of water.” Watching Bob sing, play, and entertain was a lot of fun, and I know I’ll get back to “The Dollar,” whether he’s playing or not.
A Little History
As noted before, The Sand Dollar opened in 1976 and was an immediate hit. Its central location on Spring Mountain Drive is a draw. While Blues was popular years ago, the popularity eventually faded and The Sand Dollar closed. Nothing happened to the building and it was later purchased by a party and reopened under the same name. Unfortunately, there appeared to be management problems, and it was under threat of going out of business and closing once again. Another Vegas icon would be lost.
Bar Rescue
I won’t even begin to guess how legitimate the episode of Bar Rescue was in the reclamation of The Sand Dollar was, but I do know that it was entertaining when I watched it. I was disappointed that Jon Taffer changed the name to Bar 702, but at the time, that was what he did in the show with any bar project. Since then, the bar has been resold and is back to its original “The Sand Dollar Lounge” moniker. When Jon went back to Vegas post-pandemic, he didn’t mess with the names as much as he did in the mid-teens.
Hangin’ with the Peeps
The Sand Dollar Lounge is located next to Tres Cazuelas, which is owned by one of our favorite peeps, Angelo Reyes. The Sand Dollar is a beer and cocktail bar, while Tres Cazuelas not only has great food, but a wonderful wine list as well. Perfect for date night! Actually, both are great for date night to be honest.
Enjoy the Video!
It’s short and Bob is near the end. There are just a few clipped together clips and is about a minute and a half.
