Valley native gives back to his home through business

The Born and Raised sports bar sits in a small, quiet business complex on Cimarron Road near Warm Springs Road. But don’t be fooled.

Inside, more than 30 televisions flicker with sports commercials, talk shows and games. Pictures of old Las Vegas decorate a wall near the entrance. Waiters serve customers 20 beers on tap, 15 different sliders and a plethora of bar food.

Scottie Godino Jr., the owner, hugs and high-fives guests, calling out to some by name, as he walks around the restaurant.

“My family has been in Vegas since the ’50s,” Godino said. “I know a lot of people in town.”

Born and raised in Las Vegas, Godino, 31, credits much of his business inspiration to old-school Vegas values.

“I run this place like how Vegas used to be back in the day,” Godino said. “We take care of our customers and make them feel appreciated. Customer service is the most important thing.”

After opening, Godino partnered with the University of Nevada, Las Vegas despite attending college in Reno for a year.

“I grew up going to the games, so it felt natural partnering with them,” he said. “We’re the official home of the Rebels on the road.”

UNLV junior Allison Whitefield said she refuses to watch the away games from anywhere else.

“At first, I was surprised so many people came here when there are places closer to campus,” Whitefield said. “Then I experienced how insane and nuts it gets when we win, and I was sold after that.”

In addition to sponsoring UNLV sports, Born and Raised has hosted several charity events.

At the grand opening, Godino raised more than $10,000 in donations from his guests, which included former UNLV basketball coaches Jerry Tarkanian and Lon Kruger and former Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman. It was all donated to Opportunity Village, a nonprofit organization that serves residents with intellectual disabilities.

Last year, hundreds of guests competed in a wiffle ball tournament in the bar’s parking lot and raised $2,500, which was also donated to Opportunity Village.

“We do as much as we can to give back to the community,” Godino said. “They support us, so we support them.”

Born and Raised is scheduled to host a golf tournament Oct. 28 at TPC Summerlin, 1700 Village Center Circle. The bar’s goal is to raise $10,000 for the Shade Tree, a nonprofit organization that assists families in domestic violence situations.

Henderson resident Betty Polski, 67, said she makes the 10-mile trip to the bar at least once a week to support the place and its events, and the Buffalo Chicken sliders on offer are just a bonus.

“Their customer service is wonderful, and they give back to the community. It’s nice to see people caring about others,” Polski said. “And, my goodness, the sliders are absolutely delicious.”

Godino recently leased the space next to the bar and plans to turn it into a private event room called The Bungalow. He hopes to have the room completed by the end of the year and will place his younger sister, Ali, in charge.

He plans to open more locations throughout the valley and eventually across the country.

“I feel like everyone’s proud of where they came from, so I want to eventually open a location in every major market people call home,” Godino said. “You could say you were born and raised in (expletive) Jupiter. I would find a way get one there.”

Contact Southwest/Spring Valley View reporter Caitlyn Belcher at cbelcher@viewnews.com or 702-383-0403.