MEET: PROOF TAVERN:

Tavern owner: ‘The best is yet to come’

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Steve Marcus

Sam Tibolt, owner of Proof Tavern, poses at the bar in MonteLago Village at Lake Las Vegas in Henderson Tuesday, July 11, 2017.

Mon, Jul 17, 2017 (2 a.m.)

Describe your business.

Proof Tavern is the only establishment at Lake Las Vegas’ MonteLago Village with gaming. Guests have the option of bar, dining room or patio seating, as well as private event space on the second floor.

What’s the most important part of your job?

It’s important for me to position my employees for success. Part of that is establishing a culture that creates a positive work environment. The guest experience needs to be outstanding every single time, and that can only be achieved if everyone at Proof Tavern enjoys being here. If everyone comes to work with a smile and leaves with one, then we’re doing something right.

What is the most valuable lesson you learned in your three years at Golden Entertainment?

If I had to pick one, it would be to treat everyone with dignity and respect. The gaming industry is demanding; everyone involved in it works hard, regardless of their position. As such, everyone is deserving of empathy. Everyone at Golden really embraced and supported me. It is my duty to reciprocate that to every person I come into contact with at my business.

What is the hardest part about doing business in Las Vegas?

There are so many fantastic taverns in town, and as a result, the bar has been set high. I challenge myself to evaluate the business daily and make as many improvements as possible. It’s going to take a lot of work to be considered in the top tier of gaming taverns in Southern Nevada, but that is the ultimate goal.

What is the best part about doing business here?

The economy continues to rebound, home prices are up and there is construction all over town, especially out here in Lake Las Vegas. There is just so much potential with the area, and I see nothing but positive things moving forward. So, the best part of doing business here is that the best is yet to come.

How can Nevada improve its business climate?

Any support given to small businesses as they go through the pre-opening process would be a step in the right direction. The expenses add up, and there are so many you run into along the way that a first-time business owner just doesn’t know about. I had a consultant assist me with the gaming and liquor license process as well as various health and business inspections. He was instrumental in making sure everything was in order; I would recommend that every aspiring small-business owner look at retaining someone to help with these matters.

What has been your hardest lesson in business?

Adjusting my expectations to be more reasonable. It’s going to take time to build the business. I’m a perfectionist and expected everything to be perfect right out of the gate, but I’ve been able to embrace the areas where we need to improve and work toward making adjustments. We’ve come a long way in a short time, but there is still so much we would like to accomplish.

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