In 1982, twin brothers Phil and Tom Boeckle opened a quaint, modest pub on the east side of town, where St. Louis Avenue becomes Palm Street. The unassuming brick building was a place for people to enjoy a frosty beer, shoot some pool and unwind from the day. Above the clay tile overhang was a sign reading “PT’s Pub.”
Thirty-four years later, that name is synonymous with pub-style drinking and gambling in Las Vegas.
PT’s, now part of Golden Entertainment Inc., has become the No. 1 tavern chain in Nevada and opened its 50th location recently near the new Ikea store at Sunset Road and Durango Drive.
There are PT’s Pubs and affiliated brands from Reno to Henderson, including Sierra Gold, PT’s Ranch, Sean Patrick’s Irish Pub and a PT’s Brewing Co.
The multimillion-dollar business is almost unrecognizable from its inception in 1982.
“Back then, there were like six of us,” said Gary Berger, who bartended at the original PT’s. Berger had worked for Phil and Tom at a sandwich shop before turning 21, then helped them open the pub. “It was your mom-and-pop kind of operation. We were kind of flying by the seat of the pants, learning as we were going.”
When the Boeckles hired Berger, he didn’t even fill out an application. They found out he was of age and threw him behind the bar that same day. He was promoted to manager after two years tending bar.
“It was as basic as it gets,” he recalled. “I used to hand write my employees’ paychecks.”
Berger moved up to regional manager before taking over the PT’s on Rampart and Lake Mead boulevards, where he has remained for the past 24 years.
“Back then, and to this day, we have been a pretty tight-knit family, especially with my employees at my location,” Berger said. “They are like my family, my brothers and sisters.”
The Boeckles expanded PT’s to 23 locations before selling the company to Blake Sartini and Golden Entertainment in 2002.
“When we bought them, they were very recognized here in town, but we saw something that showed us great potential to be much more than they were,” said Golden Entertainment COO Steve Arcana, who joined the company in 2003. “They were nice little neighborhood bars with a strong following, but more than anything, they had a great core of employees.”
In 2004, the first Sierra Gold opened in Reno, giving patrons a more affluent version of the pub and an expanded food menu. The first Sierra Gold in Las Vegas opened the next year.
“It was a great benchmark for us,” Arcana said. “When we opened that location, it really put us on the map. Everyone said ‘That’s really not just your average bar.’ ”
It was the same year Golden Entertainment built its first two pubs from the ground up.
“It was a great moment for us,” Arcana said. “We built them basically from dirt, and that was really a great accomplishment.”
In 2012, the first PT’s Ranch swung open its doors on Pebble Road and Eastern Avenue. The 7,000 square-foot, western-themed bar serves a special Southwest menu and cowboy-inspired cocktails.
The 50th location is a PT’s Ranch with even more bells and whistles than others in the chain. A grand opening is scheduled for June 9 with live music, discounted appetizers and specials on drinks and gaming.
“It is incredibly rewarding for myself and our company, to see the grand opening of our 50th tavern,” Arcana said. “Because of the immense popularity of our brands in the southern Nevada community, in addition to our commitment in delivering exceptional service and a quality product, PT’s has morphed into a household name.”
While continuing to broaden the PT’s footprint, the company also is planning a key expansion of its menus — it will soon begin offering PT’s home-brewed beers at every location across the valley.
PT’s Brewing Co. opened this year on Tenaya Way near Cheyenne Avenue, and company officials said it had been a hit. The location brews nine signature house beers, most of which are named for local streets: Sahara Pale Ale and Durango Double Indian Pale Ale among them.
PT’s plans to add two more locations by the end of the year, and Arcana says the company wants to build or acquire a half-dozen locations every year going forward.
“Phil and Tom’s goal was to get bigger and keep growing the business, and when they decided to sell and Blake took over, he definitely had the same motivation to continue to grow the business,” Berger said.
After three decades with PT’s and watching it grow into a giant, Berger says he still loves working for the company as much as he did when he started pouring drinks on Palm Street.
“We are a very well-rounded business, and I have a lot of confidence in the company,” Berger said. “It’s been a great ride, and I’ve enjoyed the entire thing.”