Bar owner to renovate, revamp after discipline

Facing discipline for a butt contest, Judy Nelson is turning the other cheek.

Making the best of a bad situation is the philosophy of the 79-year-old owner of the Las Vegas Eagle.

Nelson was fined $27,000 by the Nevada Gaming Commission after an investigation showed lewdness and inappropriate behavior at the bar in violation of the commission’s regulations.

“The board investigation revealed that the Las Vegas Eagle has a history of nudity and lewd activity occurring on the premises,” read the Gaming Control Board complaint, which listed nine violations.

The board found Nelson in violation of all nine counts, and the $3,000 fine per count must be paid within three months or her license is deemed surrendered.

An even bigger loss to Nelson and the bar, at 3430 Tropicana Ave. near Pecos Road, came from a three-month freeze on her gaming license. At 12:01 a.m. Friday, the handful of gambling machines in the bar were shut off for 90 days.

“I’ve had eight different taverns, and I’ve always had alcohol and gaming” Nelson said. “Gaming is a large part of the revenue. Hopefully (promotions) will hold me over until I get my license back.”

The promotional events are Nelson’s way turning something bitter into something sweet. After a brief shutdown and long-overdue renovations in the 25-year-old bar, Nelson plans to reopen with theme nights that are vastly different than the ones that landed her in hot water.

The old promotions, which gaming board officials observed from Nov. 2011 through Apr. 2012, included a “Locker Room Lockdown” where lewd activities occurred in a side room decked out with hanging sheets and low lighting, according to gaming officials, and a “Butt Contest” in which butts were bared and judged in a competition. Another promotional night, “Underwear Night” did not incur any violations, but was shut down with the other events.

Starting in July, the new theme nights will involve dance competitions, DJs, burlesque for cross dressers and transgendered contestants, drag shows, karaoke and a proposed ladies night for lesbians.

“This is what I plan on doing,” Nelson said. “I’m closing the bar, doing remodeling. It was time.”

Through 25 years of licensing, this is the first violation Nelson has faced, according to the gaming commission.

She doesn’t know what prompted the investigation, only that complaints were made against the bar.

Contact Rochel Leah Goldblatt at rgoldblatt@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0381.