Why All the Heavy Security at the Stage Door in Las Vegas?

My wife and I were walking to Ellis Island along Flamingo. She wanted to stop at the Stage Door for a peek at the “atmosphere” at 3 in the afternoon. We entered and were met with a security guard and a bouncer that ran our driver’s license through a database machine. It was a tiny place and we sat at the bar and had a few beers. I was wondering what prompted the big amount of security for this place?

Over the years, the Stage Door has had a reputation of being on the rough side, with some gang activity in the area and drunks and rowdies taking advantage of the $1 bottles of Budweiser and Michelob Lite, 16-ounce Bud/Bud Light for $2, and $2.50 quarter-pound hot dogs. (Actually, the price of the "dollar" beers is now $1.09; Stage Door started collecting sales tax in February on the beers whose previous price was actually $.91.)

In September 2015 in the wee hours, an altercation in the parking lot led to a shooting. The perpetrators were in a car driving away from the scene when they fired shots back at the Stage Door entrance; one of the rounds hit a man standing out front.

In 2018, they began checking the IDs of all patrons at the door. We wrote in the Advisor, "Apparently there was a robbery of the Stage Door by a couple in their 50s, and since their IDs weren’t checked, no one knew who they were and the new policy was instituted."

Then, after the Mandalay Bay shooting, security tightened up everywhere and the Stage Door took its end of things super seriously and never backed off. As you found out, management likes to know who's entering the establishment.

No part of this answer may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without the written permission of the publisher.

Have a question that hasn't been answered? Email us with your suggestion.

Missed a Question of the Day?

Have a Question?

Tomorrow's Question

Has Clark County ever considered legalizing prostitution?

Comments

RichM May-02-2020

Were they not collecting before?

"Actually, the price of the "dollar" beers is now $1.09; Stage Door started collecting sales tax in February on the beers whose previous price was actually $.91"

Weren't they collecting sales tax before by charging $1 ($.91 for the beer and the other nine cents for tax)?

David May-02-2020

taking advantage of ...

"... taking advantage of the $1 bottles of Budweiser and Michelob Lite, 16-ounce Bud/Bud Light for $2, and $2.50 quarter-pound hot dogs."

I'm sorry, but $1/bottle for swill like Bud and Mich? $2 for a larger can of Bud? $2.50 for a hot dog? This is what is considered a good deal these days? Go to the grocery store and you can buy a 12-pack of Bud for $6.

Anthony Curtis May-02-2020

Same as drinking in your kitchen?

Drinking a beer from the grocery at home and having one in an iconic bar that got its name because it faces what used to be the stage door exit of the MGM Grand before it became Bally's and is located a stone's throw from the Strip are kinda two different things, don't ya think?

Texas Transplant May-02-2020

LOVE the Stagedoor!! Had the same security experience

Went there with my friend expressly because it was an LVA "Top 10".  Since we are both in our 70's I was surprised when one of the three security personnel also ran out driver's licenses. (One of the security guards was literally twice our size, I'd estimate he was about 6" 5" and about 275 lbs of muscle.  Did make us feel very safe once we got in.)

We didn't mind a bit.  While some people may call it a "dive", it was a lot of fun. Spent about 2 hours, and my 75 year old friend wound up dancing with a woman he met at the bar.  We found it a very friendly place...great bartender!

We ran up a $20 bar bill, mostly beer but also included some hot dogs.  We felt a  guilty about having such a small tab so we left a $20 tip.

Best value on / just off the Strip.  Will be back when everything settles down.

O2bnVegas May-02-2020

Amen to that

Not to mention that Stage Door is toting the load to make it available; stocking, cooling, paying somebody to serve, lights, cleaning up, and more.

Pat Roach May-02-2020

Quarter pounder

$2.50 is not too bad for a quarter pound hot dog.  That's a pretty big dog!

John May-02-2020

Stage Door

That is awful pretentious there, David

Question of the Day - 02 May 2020

Comments