2 MS Bars Ranked in Nation's Top 100

Ground Zero, Eight 75 ranked among Top 100 pubs in nation

By Billy Watkins
bwatkins@clarionledger.com

Clarion-Ledger file photo Uniqueness and quality of service helped earn Ground Zero Blues Club in Clarksdale a spot on Nightclub & Bar magazine's Top 100 list. The club, which opened in 2001 and offers authentic Delta blues, is co-owned by actor Morgan Freeman and Bill Luckett.

Here's one thing Hurricane Katrina couldn't blow away: Eight 75's spot on the list of Nightclub & Bar trade magazine's Top 100 establishments in the country.

Eight 75 was located in Biloxi's Beau Rivage resort, which was heavily damaged by the storm Aug. 29 and remains closed.

"Because we work ahead, we had time to pull Eight 75 after Katrina hit," says Taylor Rau, editor of the Oxford-based publication. "But the bar was just too good and deserved its place on there. And it's our understanding that it will reopen at the end of August, which is really good news."Eight 75 joins Clarksdale's Ground Zero Blues Club as the only Mississippi watering holes to make the prestigious list.

"I think it's pretty darn exciting when a juke joint in a town of 21,000 people can be listed right up there with places in Miami, New York, Las Vegas and Chicago," says Bill Luckett, who co-owns Ground Zero along with actor Morgan Freeman. "I'm more impressed the more I think about this list."

Joe Ellis/Clarion-Ledger file photo Eight 75, located in Biloxi's Beau Rivage resort, was named one of the Top 100 nightclubs in the country by Nightclub & Bar magazine. Beau Rivage officials say the resort and the bar should reopen in late August. The players Ground Zero Blues Club, Clarksdale. Open: Monday and Tuesday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.; Wednesday and Thursday 11 a.m.-midnight; Friday and Saturday 11 a.m.-1 a.m. Music performances are held every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday evenings. An open mike jam session along with a blues artist is held each Thursday night. Eight 75, Biloxi's Beau Rivage resort. Currently closed due to damage from Hurricane Katrina. Scheduled to reopen in late August. Known for its Vegas-style lighting and plush decor. Nightclub & Bar magazine. Based in Oxford for the past 21 years, it covers every aspect of the nightclub industry. For information, visit www.nightclub.com on the Web.

Eight 75 and Ground Zero Blues Club earned their spots because of uniqueness and quality of service, Rau says.

"There is a widespread appreciation for authentic Delta blues, and we think Ground Zero Blues Club is singlehandedly spurring a lot of interest across the country," he says. "Of course, having Morgan Freeman's name attached to it doesn't hurt, either."

Freeman is attending a film festival in Dubai, located along the Arabian Gulf Coast, and probably hasn't learned of the honor yet, Luckett says.Ground Zero Blues Club opened May 11, 2001 in a 103-year-old building that used to serve a store and cotton company.

"People from Europe approached me about opening an authentic blues club in Mississippi," Luckett recalls. "I got to thinking about that old saying that sometimes we can't see the forest for the trees. They could see something that was right before my eyes.

Clarion-Ledger file photo Ground Zero Blues Club occupies a historic building in Clarksdale.

"Then the roof fell in on a club that Morgan and I used to enjoy frequenting (The Crossroads in Clarksdale) and had to close. So it was up to us to replicate an old juke joint to help produce and perpetuate blues music."

The club has been featured on documentaries, country music videos and news reports on CNN and The Food Network.

"Seems like there is always a camera rolling in here," says Ground Zero manager Rachel Lawton.Some celebrities who have visited Ground Zero: Elvis Costello, Robert Plant, Paul Simon and Jerry Lee Lewis.

Eight 75 — which got its name from its address, 875 Beach Boulevard — "was very prolific with its food and beverage operations, added a nice touch of flair and pizazz to the casino overall. It had state-of-the-art lighting, design and decor," Rau says.And it will have it again, advises Mary Cracchiolo, Beau Rivage's assistant director of public affairs.

"Things are subject to change, but as it stands right now the casino will be back Aug. 29, and that is supposed to include Eight 75," she says.

Cracchiolo says she is "honored" by the club's inclusion on the list but not totally surprised."It's a very contemporary nightclub that could hold up to any in Vegas," she says. "It appeals to hip young crowds and also to professionals meeting there for pre-theater drinks. It has it all — plus couches, plasma TV screens and real quality cocktails that our staff learned exactly how to make."

Several factors were taken into consideration while compiling the list, Rau says."It could've been a list of 1,000," Rau says. "Pairing it down was a tough, painful process. But a few things that might keep somebody out: If they're not proficient with marketing, advertising and promotion. If they're not proactive in making a name for themselves in the industry. A poor attitude toward their patrons.

"What we looked at was annual revenue; marketing and ad promotional abilities, through network feedback from guests; uniqueness — in other words, if it's a theme club, is it really going to stand out in the club's locale."

At least four theme clubs made the cut. 115 Bourbon Street Pub is located in Chicago "but has one of the largest and best Mardi Gras parties in the United States," Rau says.B.E.D in Miami offers its patrons plush beds instead of tables and chairs.

Club Deep in Miami features a see-through dance floor located above an aquarium holding several species of fish, including sharks.Beach Bar at the W Hotel in San Diego is a rooftop lounge with sand on the floor and a full-sized volleyball court.

Rau already has heard from several angry nightclub owners, wondering why their nightspots weren't included.

"I tried to be as soft as possible, but I'm very candid," he says. "Sometimes I have to say 'We simply haven't seen an effective means of getting your name out there.' Most of the time they listen because they know we have a pretty good network out there."Nightclub & Bar is celebrating its 21st year in print.

Rau and his staff also produce two other monthly magazines: Beverage Retailer and Salud! y Buen Provecho, a magazine aimed at Latinos. They circulate nationwide and in Canada, Asia and South America."Our primary readers are owners or managers of nightclubs and bars," says Rau, who attended journalism school at the University of Mississippi. "Bartenders. Servers. A lot of supply companies that make serving trays and things like that."

The stories in the current issue range from hard news topics such as McCain Foods earning $5.6 billion in its most recent fiscal year, which ended in June, to a feature about George's Majestic Lounge, a 79-year-old bar in Fayetteville, Ark., known for its library of college yearbooks.

Top 100 nightclubs

1. 115 Bourbon Street Pub (Chicago)
2. 32 Degrees (Philadelphia)
3. AJ's (Destin, Fla.)
4. Ampersand (New Orleans)
5. Ava Lounge (New York)
6. Aria (Boston)
7. Avalon and Spider Club (L.A.)
8. Beach Bar at the W Hotel (San Diego)
9. B.E.D. (Miami)
10. Billy Bob's Texas (Fort Worth, Texas)
11. Blue Martini (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.)
12. Cabo Wabo Cantina (Lake Tahoe, Nev.)
13. Caramel Bar and Lounge (Las Vegas)
14. Carlos & Charlie's (Lake Travis, Texas)
15. Carousel Bar (New Orleans)
16. Casbah (Atlantic City, N.J.)
17. Chilkoot Charlies's (Anchorage, Alaska)
18. Club Chameleon (Las Vegas)
19. Club Deep (Miami)
20. Coyote Ugly (New York)
21. Crobar (New York)
22. Dave & Buster's (Dallas)
23. Denim (Philadelphia)
24. Dream (Washington, D.C.)
25. e4 (Scottsdale, Ariz.)
26. Eight 75 (Biloxi, Miss.)
27. Elements, the Lounge (Sea Bright, N.J.)
28. Eleven50 (Atlanta)
29. ESPN Zone (Baltimore)
30. Elysium (Detroit)
31. Excalibur (Chicago)
32. Fado Irish Pub (Atlanta)
33. First Avenue (Minneapolis)
34. Flatiron Lounge (New York)
35. Ivan Kane's Forty Deuce (Hollywood, Calif. and Las Vegas)
36. Fox Sports Grill (Scottsdale, Ariz.)
37. Vicci (Austin, Texas)
38. Galapagos (Brooklyn, N.Y.)
39. ghostbar (Las Vegas)
40. Green Parrot (Key West, Fla.)
41. Good Hurt (Los Angeles)
42. Ground Zero Blues Club (Clarksdale, Miss.)
43. House of Blues (New Orleans)
44. ICE (Las Vegas)
45. Jillian's (Dallas)
46. Jimmy'z At The Forge (Miami)
47. Kahunaville (Wilmington, Del.)
48. Key Club (Hollywood, Calif.)
49. Le Passage (Chicago)
50. Light (Las Vegas)
51. Long Street (Columbus, Ohio)
52. Lotus (New York)
53. Mango's Tropical Cafe (Miami)
54. Marquee (New York)
55. Medusa (Seattle)
56. Mercy Wine Bar (Addison, Texas)
57. Midnight Rodeo (San Antonio)/Wild West (Houston)
58. Mickey's Hangover (Scottsdale, Ariz.)
59. Mynt (Miami)
60. Mie N Yu (Washington, D.C.)
61. Nikki Beach (Miami)
62. Ocean Club (Honolulu, Hawaii.)
63. Pangea/The Gryphon (Hollywood, Fla.)
64. Pat O'Brien's (New Orleans)
65. Prey (Los Angeles)
66. Pure (Las Vegas)
67. Pin-Up Bowl (St. Louis, Mo.)
68. Purple Moon (Flint, Mich.)
69. Rain in the Desert (Las Vegas)
70. Remote Lounge (New York)
71. Rise (Denver, Colo.)
72. RockStar (soon to be renamed) (Destin, Fla.)
73. rumjungle (Las Vegas)
74. Senses (Memphis, Tenn.)
75. Sharkeez (Huntington Beach, Calif.)
76. Shelter (Los Angeles)
77. Sherlock's Baker Street Pub (Houston)
78. Six (Scottsdale, Ariz.)
79. Sloppy Joe's (Key West, Fla.)
80. Studio 54 (Las Vegas)
81. Tabu Ultra Lounge (Las Vegas)
82. The Abbey (West Hollywood, Calif.)
83. the bosco (Ferndale, Mich.)
84. The Crocodile Cafe (Seattle)
85. The Dresden Room (Los Angeles)
86. The Funky Buddha Lounge (Chicago)
87. The Greene Turtle (Ocean City, Md.)
88. The Library Bar & Grill (Tempe, Ariz.)
89. The New Crown & Anchor (Provincetown, Mass.)
90. The Ranch (Midland, Texas)
91. The Viper Room (Los Angeles)
92. Tipitina's (New Orleans)
93. Tobacco Road (Miami)
94. Tongue & Groove (Atlanta)
95. Tootsie's Orchid Lounge (Nashville, Tenn.)
96. Top of the Mark (San Francisco)
97. Vine Street Lounge (Los Angeles)
98. Whiskey Blue (Los Angeles)
99. World Bar (New York)
100. XYZ (Los Angeles)