Frank Sidoris just keeps living up to his reputation of cool. The Las Vegas native and guitarist has been supporting Slash’s solo project on tour for over a decade and alternates that gig with another role in Wolfgang Van Halen’s band, Mammoth WVH.
Given his chosen profession, Sidoris has traveled extensively, dividing his time between roads and skies, collecting a wealth of international life experiences. But as the offspring of showgirl Angela Stabile and casino pit boss Frank Sidoris, it’s safe to say that Vegas pride runs through his veins.
In 2022, he expanded his focus to hospitality, taking ownership of the iconic Vegas dive bar the Hard Hat Lounge. The 60-plus-year-old watering hole has gone through its share of wear and tear, and Sidoris decided to close the doors in order to give the place a much-needed revamp. “We performed the open-heart surgery it needed,” he jokes. “I believe it’s the third oldest bar [in town]. We got it up to speed and it’s better than ever.”
At the grand re-reopening on December 1, Sidoris celebrated the team’s hard work with a stellar block party including carnival games, live bands, DJs, and of course, a surprise performance from Slash.
Prior to that event, while on tour with Mammoth WVH, Sidoris took the time to chat with the Weekly about Hard Hat’s facelift and new kitchen addition, and how he navigates being a rock star and historic bar owner.
What made you want to restore and reopen a bar in Vegas? I was born and raised in Vegas and grew up in an industry family. My mother was a dancer at the Riviera, and my dad has been a pit boss and has opened almost every hotel in town at some point.
It all comes from the travel, too, you know? I always find a coffee shop, fun cocktail bar or something to do or eat on the road and I think that’s important to do. And I just always had it in the back of my head that I wanted to open a coffee shop or a bar in Vegas at some point. When the opportunity presented itself, I was on the road and my former partner reached out and we dove in headfirst. Since then it’s been about making sure this is a place that the Vegas industry can go to after work. I just really love that idea of being able to host the city.
Did you frequent that area on Industrial before you became the owner of Hard Hat? For years I would drive by it when I was about 16 or 17 years old, just making deliveries around town. It was just me, the taxi cabs and the limousines using Industrial to get from point A to B.
It was one of those places—divey is probably the safest word—and over the years it’s improved, slowly but surely. But I can say with 100% certainty that everything me and my GM Dillon Shines did was to get it up to speed. I also think we made sure to put that on the grand opening flyer that there’s a new scent too.
I remember the original scent! What were the other renovations? The big reason we had to close down was to add a grease trap. We replaced all the plumbing from the ’60s, and as far as electrical goes, there was just a laundry list of what we had to fix. Over the decades of previous owners, they’ve just been putting Band-aids on things. But we really didn’t want to change too much to the bar that everybody has known and loved for decades, so we leaned into its history and kept its charm. Now everything is up to code, so the city is happy and patrons are subconsciously happier.
Stay Tuned Burgers has taken over the Hard Hat kitchen, which is exciting. How did that come about? About a year ago we ended up having to close the kitchen on Mondays and at the time we needed something to supplement. Stay Tuned was already a mutual friend and [founder Bobby Meader] said, “Look, I can just go on the patio and grill these burgers.” Sure enough, a couple of weeks in, everybody was asking, “Are the burgers only on Monday?” It just seemed like the perfect fit.
Does running the bar conflict with your musical career? I spend a lot of my time dealing with this business remotely, but Dillon is my oldest friend. I’ve known him since fourth grade. So ultimately, knowing the people that are employed there, and those who I’m partnered with have been trustworthy as long as I’ve known them.
I’m sure it’s been surreal working with some truly heavy-hitting musicians. I’ve been playing with Slash for going on 12 years, which is insane to consider. To be affiliated with any sort of legacy like the Van Halen or Guns N’ Roses world, it’s definitely an honor and I don’t take it for granted.
What’s your long-term vision for Hard Hat? Could we expect live gigs there eventually? I believe that Industrial heading south is only going to get more and more exciting. What exists on that street reflects in the name—it’s industrial. I kind of love that it’s unassuming. I just want us to have that kind of reputation, that you never really know what could potentially happen here on any given week.
A lot of people and touring bands have been reaching out asking to play the bar. The connection between what I do for a living and the food and beverage industry goes hand in hand.
Click HERE to subscribe for free to the Weekly Fix, the digital edition of Las Vegas Weekly! Stay up to date with the latest on Las Vegas concerts, shows, restaurants, bars and more, sent directly to your inbox!
