N9NE Group

"N9NE" redirects here. For the rapper, see Tech N9ne.

N9NE Group logo.

The N9NE Group is a partnership that owns and operates restaurants and nightclubs in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, Chicago and Dallas. The N9NE Group was founded by Michael Morton and Scott DeGraff. The two have been friends since age nine, which is the source of the company's name.^[1] The son of restaurateur Arnie Morton, Morton grew up in the restaurant business,^[1] while DeGraff pursued a career as a real estate attorney^{[citation needed]}

History

In 1992 Morton and DeGraff partnered and launched the nightclub Drink and Eat, Too in Chicago. They went on to open Drink in Las Vegas in 1995. N9NE Steakhouse and Ghostbar opened in Chicago in 2000.^[1]

In 2001, George J. Maloof, Jr. of the Maloof family and owner of the Palms Hotel and Casino asked DeGraff and Morton to recreate their Chicago steakhouse Nine and after-hours Ghostbar at the Palms.^[1] N9NE opened Rain Nightclub, Ghostbar, N9NE Steakhouse, and Skin Pool Lounge - all at the Palms.^[2] In Dallas, Morton and DeGraff partnered with Ross Perot Jr. to create a "new urban showcase" in Victory Park feature Nove Italiano, N9NE Steakhouse, Ghostbar and the retail store Stuff.^[3]

The N9NE Group, in conjunction with Green Mountain Energy's BeGreen Business division, works to make its nightclubs environmentally-conscious. In 2007, the N9NE Group offset 100% of its electricity usage by purchasing renewable energy credits (RECs) made from wind and biomass sources.^[4] The company also offers guests the opportunity to purchase a "BeGreen" ticket to help the company continue to purchase RECs. The N9NE Group has used Sustainable Waves' solar powered lighting and sound equipment at many of its events.^[5]

For Earth Day 2009, the N9NE Group unveiled the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada's (RTC) first Grease BUs, powered by used vegetable oil from N9NE Steakhouse.^[6]

The N9NE Group is also one of a number of companies and organizations including Southwest Airlines, Cirque du Soleil, and Planet Hollywood that sponsor events and awards at the CineVegas Film Festival.^[7]

Playboy Club at the Fantasy Tower at the Palms

In 2006, N9NE opened the Playboy Club at the Fantasy Tower at the Palms, the first Playboy Club since 1988, in partnership with Playboy Enterprises.^[8] Michael Morton's father, Chicago restaurateur Arnie Morton, built and operated the original chain of Playboy nightclubs.^[9]

Restaurants and Clubs

• N9NE Group Las Vegas - all in the Palms Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas:
  • N9NE Steakhouse - Essentially, this is a steakhouse.
  • Playboy Club - Directly above Nove Italiano
  • Rain Night Club - encourages out-of-state visitors to leave the Strip
  • Nove Italiano Restaurant - located on the 51st floor of the Palms Fantasy Tower, just below the Playboy Club and Moon Night Club, it offers Italian cuisine
  • Ghostbar - Located on the 55th floor of the Palms, Ghostbar features DJs spinning house and hip-hop and a mixed crowd of Vegas locals and tourists.
  • Palms Pool and Bungalows - three outdoor pools with poolside gaming available. Some of the games are in the pool.
  • Moon Night Club - Located on the 53rd floor of the Fantasy Tower
• N9NE Chicago
  • N9NE Steakhouse Chicago - a steakhouse off
  • Ghostbar floor - located at the upper Level of the Nine.
• N9NE Cabazon
• N9NE Dallas
  • N9NE Steakhouse - Steakhouse and caviar bar located in the South Center Plaza of the American Airlines Center. Closed February 4, 2009 due to lack of business.
  • Ghostbar - The Ghostbar atop the new W Dallas Victory Hotel and Residences Tower in downtown Dallas bar has a 100-square-foot (9 m²) deck built entirely of glass with a see-through floor
  • Nove Italiano Restaurant - italian restaurant located in the South Center Plaza of the American Airlines Center. Opened in 2007, closed September 2008 due to lack of business.^[3]

N9NE Steakhouse

The original N9NE Steakhouse in Chicago was open prior to Palms Casino Resort owner George Maloof's offer to partner with Morton and DeGraff to replicate the steakhouse at his new hotel. Condé Nast Traveler called the original N9NE Steakhouse “one of the newest, hottest and best places to eat in the entire world,” while John Mariani of Wine Spectator dubbed it “the hottest of Chicago’s new restaurants.” The Las Vegas N9NE Steakhouse earned honors as one of “America’s Best Restaurants” from Gourmet magazine.

When the Palms opened its doors in 2001, it housed not only the Las Vegas edition of N9NE Steakhouse, but three other N9NE Group venues as well: Rain Nightclub, ghostbar, and Skin Pool Lounge.

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} "Crain's 2003 40 under 40". Chicagobusiness.com. http://chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/article.pl?page_id=1431. Retrieved 2011-08-11. 
2. ^ Pennington, April Y. (March 2006). "Keepers of the Night". http://www.entrepreneur.com/magazine/entrepreneur/2006/march/83588.html. Retrieved 2011-08-11. 
3. ^ ^{a b} Robinson-Jacobs, Karen (December 29, 2008). "D/FW Business Decade in Review". Dallas Morning News. http://www.dallasnews.com/business/headlines/20091226-D-FW-Business-Decade-in-Review-1421.ece. Retrieved 25 August 2011. 
4. ^ "BeGreen and N9NE Group ‘Green Up’ Sin City". Vegas News. 2009-05-15. http://www.vegasnews.com/7244/begreen-and-n9ne-group-green-up-sin-city.html. Retrieved 2011-08-11. 
5. ^ Zaragoza, Sandra (June 4, 2009). "Solar + tunes = energy efficient concert series". http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/stories/2009/06/01/daily41.html. Retrieved 2011-08-11. 
6. ^ "N9NE Group Unveils RTC Grease Bus and Solar-Powered DJ Booth". Vegas News. April 17, 2009. http://www.vegasnews.com/5961/n9ne-group-unveils-rtc-grease-bus-and-solar-powered-dj-booth.html. Retrieved 2011-08-11. 
7. ^ "Elections won’t change the face of LVCVA board much". June 5, 2009. http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/jun/05/elections-wont-change-face-lvcva-board-much/. Retrieved 2011-08-11. 
8. ^ "lasvegassun.com". lasvegassun.com. 2006-10-03. http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/do/2006/oct/03/566658179.html. Retrieved 2011-08-11. ^{[dead link]}
9. ^ "Bunnies Are Back. Palms' Fantasy Tower takes Playboy Club concept to new heights". Reviewjournal.com. October 7, 2006. http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Oct-07-Sat-2006/news/10090046.html. Retrieved 2011-08-11.