N9NE Group

The N9NE Group is a company that owns and operates restaurants and nightclubs at the Palms Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, and formerly in Chicago and Dallas. The N9NE Group was founded by Michael Morton and Scott DeGraff.[1] The two were friends since age nine, which is the source of the company's name.[2]

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

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.[2]

The son of restaurateur Arnie Morton, Morton grew up in the restaurant business,[2] while DeGraff pursued a career as a real estate attorney.

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.[2] N9NE opened Rain Nightclub, Ghostbar, N9NE Steakhouse, and Skin Pool Lounge - all at the Palms.[3] 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.[4]

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.[5] 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.[6]

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.[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. The Las Vegas Playboy Club closed summer 2012.[9]

See also

References
  1. Bendersky, Ari (November 28, 2011). "N9NE Group Co-Founder Scott DeGraff Dies From Apparent Suicide in Aspen". Eater Chicago.
  2. "Crain's 2003 40 under 40". Chicagobusiness.com. Retrieved 2011-08-11.
  3. Pennington, April Y. (March 2006). "Keepers of the Night". Entrepreneur Magazine. Retrieved 2011-08-11.
  4. Robinson-Jacobs, Karen (December 29, 2008). "D/FW Business Decade in Review". Dallas Morning News. Retrieved 25 August 2011.
  5. "BeGreen and N9NE Group 'Green Up' Sin City". Vegas News. 2009-05-15. Retrieved 2011-08-11.
  6. Zaragoza, Sandra (June 4, 2009). "Solar + tunes = energy efficient concert series". Austin Business Journal. Retrieved 2011-08-11.
  7. "N9NE Group Unveils RTC Grease Bus and Solar-Powered DJ Booth". Vegas News. April 17, 2009. Retrieved 2011-08-11.
  8. "lasvegassun.com". lasvegassun.com. 2006-10-03. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved 2011-08-11.
  9. "Bunnies Are Back. Palms' Fantasy Tower takes Playboy Club concept to new heights". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Reviewjournal.com. October 7, 2006. Retrieved 2011-08-11.
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