FRANKIE LIVES! THE P MOSS INTERVIEW
Q:How did you go from AssJuice in the FruitLoop to Mai Tais and fertility sculptures at Frankie's Tiki Room?
A:I just wanted to. This town has sorely needed a Tiki Bar and the time was right. We had a couple of different ideas but decided the the space was too small for our first choice.
(Oh yeah, you can bet when the next concept pops off The Vegas Style Guy will be there with my sippycup on!)
You know, Tiki is a big part of 50's and 60's American pop culture. I didn't want to do some modern version of one. None of that corporate bullshit! I wanted an authentic Tiki Bar so I went to the top Tiki carvers I could find. Of course they didn't trust that I was going to do it faithfully. They thought I was just going to do another Trader Vics type of thing. Fake. They changed their minds after a nice down payment check was written.
(I'm including the link to the FRANKIE'S TIKI ROOM website so that you can learn more about these amazing artists. After all, I aint got time to tell you everything, work bitches!)
Q:You haven't exactly put yourself in a place that will cause a district or scene to spring up was that intentional?
A:People thought the same thing about the Double Down and to me that was a no brainer. I mean it was 60seconds from the airport (I know I like some AssJuice on my way to the Southwest Terminal, jes sayin'-TVSG) and 5Minutes from the strip. Frankie's is the same thing, a no brainer. It's 5 minutes from downtown and in a location that doesn't offer any "get to" shit. None of the hassles of the strip are involved in going out. And when the whole Union development is done this is going to be the area to be in.
Q:What's the biggest change you've seen in Las Vegas since you first opened the Double Down?
A:I'm not a club guy so I can't even tell you. I just see the shiny ads with the Big Tit girls and I'm not interested.
HAL-LUH-LOO MY BROTHER! AT THIS POINT WE STOPPED FOR DRINKS. OH, DID I MENTION LAS VEGAS DENIZEN EXTRA ORDINAIRE (tres ordinaire) PRINCESS ANNE OF THE FLYING VAGINAS HAD JOINED US FOR A BEARDED CLAM? (Note: I no longer like her)
HOW APROPOS.
I SWEAR.
REALLY.
DRINKS WERE YUMMY!
THAT'S FRANCAISE FOR "FUCK, IT'S 2PM!"
BACK TO WORK
Q:Are you afraid of Frankie's becoming a hipster hell like so many bars in Silverlake (L.A.)?
A:I'm not worried about it at all. This is the type of place that you see a pornstar next to a plumber. Everybody gets treated the same. The bottom line is that this is a bar. If I lose that vision I'll hear about it. If I lose that then it's over. There won't be any bullshit VIP tables or bottle service. I hate that shit.
AT THAT MOMENT A GUY WHO LOOKS LIKE HE JUST GOT OFF OF A CONSTRUCTION SITE WALKS IN AND SETS HIMSELF UP AT THE BAR.
Q:I noticed an amazing mix of people at Frankie's opening night. Were you surprised by the mix?
A:I knew exactly the kind of mix I was going to get. It's the Double Down but better dressed. And behaved. I don't care if you're broke, rich or whatever, everybody should be able to come here and enjoy themselves.
Q:Double Down is known for it's raucous live performances. Frankie's is a much smaller place. Anything special planned?
A:No. No live music or performances. Frankie's is just a place with a relaxing vibe, maybe I'll put a DJ in the bathroom occasionally. Frankie's needs to be what it is.
Q:Who the hell is Frankie and why this place instead of something new?
A:Who knows! The former owner had the place for 27yrs and had no clear story. Maybe I'll make something up. I'll create an Urban Legend! Las Vegas loses history everyday, it's important that I pay respect to the past. If I had just come in and bulldozed the place it would have just alienated the type of people that I want to attract. You know, everybody from regulars who are happy for the upgrade and new folks who are grateful to be able to pay an homage to the past.
Q:You've grown up with the scene here in The LV, is this your grown up playhouse.
A:Yeah, I opened Double Down on 02 December 1992! This is kinda for grownups. The Double Down grew more organically than this place, so, I still go there to relax. I've put so much work into Frankie's that this is more like being at work for me. You know, a new generation has discovered Double Down and a lot of the original crowd is coming here now, but, both crowds are welcome and happy here.
Q:Do you have a life outside of your bars?
A:I'm working on it, I've been working 7 days a week for a long time. I'm taking a break in January
Q:What's your all time favorite bar?
A:Double Down without a doubt. When I go out in any city nothing compares. Not even our New York City bar. When I go out I either want the fanciest place in town or the most extreme dive and nothing compares to Double Down on the dive end.
TEN QUESTIONS FOR P MOSS
Q:If you had to be stranded on a desert island with the following what would they be:
A:Princess Anne's' Flaming Vagina
UH, OK, BUT, NOW LET'S DO THE QUESTIONS.
Oh.
BAND: The Holograms, they're Asian All girl band from L.A., they sing about Ass Fucking! One of my all time favorite bands!
DRINK: Vodka Tonic
BARTENDER: Backdoor Becca at the Double Down in New York.
40's MOVIES STAR: Laurence Tierney.
GARNISH: Pussy or the cream corn in the AssJuice at Double Down.
PIECE OF JEWELRY: My silver Tiki ring from The Tiki Gods. It leaves a smiling Tiki imprint on a face.
45 rpm RECORD: My Boy Lollipop by Millie Smalls.
BOOK: Anything by Jim Thompson.
GOLDEN GIRL: Huh? PASS!
MOVIE MONSTER: Godzilla.
When you first see P Moss you know he's either a huge nerd,The Dealer, a total asshole OR the coolest guy in the fuckin' room.
Double Down on coolest guy in the room.
Did you notice my corny wrap it up line?
Of course you did.
Really.
You swear.
FRANKIES TIKI ROOM
1712 W. Charleston
702-385-3110
www.frankiestikiroom.com
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