The philosophy behind it? When you're working by word-of-mouth, those are the folks you want most in your corner.
#CHEERS GAY BAR SAN DIEGO FREE#
Instead, they took black-and-white printed fliers around to bars and restaurants offering free drinks to service industry workers on opening day. In the earliest days, advertising wasn't their style, mainly because they didn't have the money for it. Respecting service industry workers has always been a key element of the Grapevine's success. Despite the fact that the Grapevine is known for fostering wild nights, it is purposefully staffed by consummate professionals, she says. Not only that, they grant each of the bartenders managerial status with responsibilities and privileges that come with it. The bar opens late twice per year for staff appreciation days, including an annual trip to the State Fair, and for the 10th anniversary, they took a "family vacation" to Las Vegas. Michelle says she can't answer for staff as to why they clearly love their jobs - though Morley responded "because y'all are so awesome!" while pressure washing the outside of the building in preparation for the anniversary party - but she does admit that she and Ronny treat their staff like family. Such low turnover is virtually unheard of in the industry. These days, the drinks are poured by seasoned veterans Jon Bryan (18 years), Kevin Nicholson (17 years), Santiango Cantu (16 years off-and-on), Rob Morley (15 years off-and-on), and Morgan Purritz and Melissa Masterson (almost 8 years each). Even fewer can make one of the Grapevine's boldest claims: Some of its bartenders and bar-backs, most in fact, have been there over 15 years. We've not just existed, but we've thrived." the culture and the landscape have changed, and I think that's why we've been successful. "But, you have to listen to customers and what they want. "Some people have a concept and they stick to it no matter what because that's what they want," she says. But, the original technicolor dream evolved well. So has the neighborhood and the city and the world in general. Nostalgic as those early years remain to those who lived them, Michelle is the first to tell you that the bar has changed since 1996. Customers sidle up to the Grapevine's front bar. The bar's front entrance boasts the phrase "check your attitude at the door" posted in Scrabble tiles, a sentiment attributed too to its founding owner. But his clever reference to the television bar where "everybody knows your name" isn't the only quote for which he is remembered. That newspaper clipping remains cherished in a frame to this day, as does a photo of Fiaschetti, which hangs on the bar wall in his honor. I have an ad coming out that says it's like 'Cheers' on acid." "We get the see-and-be-seen crowd, we get the gay crowd.