WESTERN SALOON TURNS INTO CRAFT-BEER TAVERN
Fine converts former Roadrunner into casual home of 250 beer choices
In his first foray away from his restaurants on the Strip, Jonathan Fine has converted an old Roadrunner western-themed saloon in the west valley into an ultracasual craft beer tavern with 250 beers and space to watch sports and play games.
Fine, known for his Rockhouse Las Vegas dive-bar concept at Grand Canal Shoppes and the PBR Rock Profession- al Bull Riders-licensed bar at Miracle Mile Shops, bought the Roadrunner Saloon at 9820 W. Flamingo Road in 2014 and officially opened the 28,000-square- foot newly branded PKWY Tavern on Sunday.
In all, PKWY’s 250 beers include sudsy selections that are drawn from 120 taps linked to a spacious keg fridge, with the majority of beers coming from breweries in Colorado and points West, including locals such as Big Dog’s.
Plus, there’s an array of games from shuffleboard and corn hole on a 3,000-square-foot patio to darts and Bowlingo on small bowling lanes inside.
American comfort foods make up much of the menu.
Targeting the 25-to-40-year-old demographic, Fine said he wanted a craft beer setting that was much more casual than the corporate feel of a craft
Owner plans six to eight more Valley locatioins
the 2018 equestrian event.
The FEI World Cup returned to the United States and Las Vegas this year after last being in the U.S. in 2009, when Las Vegas also was the host. Attendance was 60,195 in 2009.
Christenson attributed the bump in attendance to a “pent-up demand” in the U.S. for the equestrian jumping and dressage and improved marketing through social media hype.
He said 30,000 people were following social media’s promotion of the FEI World Cup. Las Vegas Events also worked with equestrian groups and me- dia in the U.S. to promote the event.
“This is a very affluent crowd, but very social media savvy,” Christenson said.
The event also attracts thousands of Europeans, although the exact number won’t be known for weeks until the World Cup demographic numbers are reviewed. Forty European horses that participated in the FEI World Cup and valued at $150 million have been shipped back to their homes.
Las Vegas Events has also produced the FEI World Cup in 2000, 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2009. Contact reporter Alan Snel at asnel@resie7journal or 702-387-5273. Follo7 @BicycleManSnel on T7itter.