Earl’s Town Tavern, Las Vegas, Triblend Tee

Venue History

The Town Tavern opened its doors on July 5, 1955, at 600 West Jackson Avenue on the West Side of Las Vegas, founded by entrepreneur Earl Turmon. From the outset it became a vibrant hub for the local African American community during an era of segregation, offering a safe and lively venue when many entertainment spots were closed to Black patrons. In its golden years during the late 1950s, the Town Tavern was celebrated for its live-music revue and casino gaming. Legendary entertainers such as Louis Armstrong, Sammy Davis Jr. and the Ink Spots graced its stage, drawn to the club’s reputation and the energetic crowds. As part of the West Side’s entertainment district—once likened to a downtown of its own—the club also offered 24-hour bar service, a casino floor, and a welcoming gathering place for locals and entertainers alike. On July 6, 1959, the business changed hands and was renamed the New Town Tavern. Later, in the 1990s, it operated as the Ultra New Town Tavern. The venue hosted slot machines and gaming tables in its later years—an example of a post-segregation era pivot from purely live-music club to casino-club hybrid. Although the club closed in 2013, the structure stood as a testament to a fading chapter of Vegas social history. Sadly, its building was destroyed by fire on October 15 2023 and the property is now vacant. The story of the Town Tavern is more than a tale of a nightlife venue: it is a snapshot of cultural resilience and community identity in Las Vegas. It showcases how, during a time of limitation and exclusion, independent Black-owned businesses carved out vibrant spaces that nurtured talent, creativity and social connection. Its legacy continues to resonate in the history of the West Side, and in the broader narrative of Las Vegas’s transformation and reinvention.