RED ZONE or WAR ZONE…

I mentioned in an earlier post that I tended bar at a nightclub in NYC named the Red Zone… And it was, in it's heyday -- the best of the best… From design, decor, world class DJ's (David Morales), 3 star restaurant.., and the best bar staff you could have put together…

But the time they started doing the "Thursday Night Hip-Hop" to be honest.., it was on the decline… Don't get me wrong, every night those doors were open -- it was packed! But the celebrities and "movers and shakers of the night life scene… Well, they didn't want to get shot…

I mean, who does, right..?

It got so bad, so fast -- that by the end of the night, of that first hip-hop promotion -- we already had our first "drive-by." That's drive-by shooting Im talking about… Our security staff and door people narrowly escaping the spray of bullets… So, the following Thursday, same as the first one.., we all met at the GM's apartment before work and were told to be very careful and on our toes -- plus the house would be supplementing the lack of tips…

It was pretty intense… I was living with one of the bartenders, Nancy -- who was not allowed to work because she was a female.., and it would be too dangerous -- that's $600-$800 out of her pocket… More of the scariest security (bouncers) were shuffled over to our club from various other nightclubs -- one of the owners of the Red Zone (Angelo) ran security for all the nightclubs in town.

Even the resident drug dealers, the guys they let deal drugs -- without having to worry about being thrown out, started carrying guns -- in the club. These guys were like family.., and would have put a bullet into anyone that fucked with a staff member -- especially one of the bartenders… I became very good friends with one of those guys, in particular.., and he told me not to worry about a thing, he would be standing right in front of my bar all night -- except of course when he had to make a transaction…

As I was setting up the main bar, the head of security came walking in -- Big Mike, wearing a long black over coat and carrying two big black duffel bags (full). He went into the GM's office and I followed him a few minutes later to smoke a joint with Brett (the GM)… Well, Big Mike was suiting up like RAMBO… Bullet proof vest holster under each arm-pit holding 2 9mm, a smaller gun in his ankle holster and a really big knife in his belt…

He just looked at me and said -- "Feel safer…" with a big, sick smile on his face…

And no.., I really didn't!

Just two hours into the night.., and the coat-check guy had been punched in the face so hard, it knocked him out.., and one of the bartenders had been slashed with a straight razor because he wouldn't give some guy a bottle of beer - we had to put everything into plastic cups.., and obviously that didn't go over to well…

It Was A War Zone

Right after midnight, some a-hole through something at me, to get my attention.., and it hit me right in the middle of my back (and it hurt), so I turned around and threw a handful of nice size ice cubes at him.., and hit the prick right in the face…

He went ballistic!

As he starts to climb over the bar -- Big Mike grabs him by the hair and slams his face into the bar about ten times -- blood is shooting out of this guys face from everywhere.., and there are a few of his teeth sitting right on the bar, too. The guy was picked up and literally thrown, in the air.., out the back door.

At about 1:00am the place is pumping -- I've got about 5 people deep at the bar.., and have not stopped moving all night… When all of a sudden -- gunshots go off. The house lights come on, the music stops -- people are running, screaming, trampling over each other -- it's mayhem… Then people start jumping over the bar -- some just trying to hide and others trying to steal bottles of liquor…

In the worst case scenario (like this), the drill was to grab your cash register draw and lock all the bartenders in the ice room and wait for security (or Joey the drug dealer) to come and get us… But there were too many people already over the bar -- we had to fight our way to the ice room holding our money at the same time -- totally insane.

Just as we locked the door behind us.., Joey (drug dealer) comes busting in -- holding hid 9mm straight up in the air… "Mack grab all the money and stay right behind me." he yells. By the time we got to the GM's office, we had passed all kinds of blood on the way… "Stay in here no matter what" and he slams the door and goes running back into the craziness, locking me inside.

All this went down in about 45 minutes -- and we were told to go back to work… WTF are you kidding me -- NOPE. We all got back behind the bar, lights go back off and music starts pumping… I will say, the rest of the night went off without a hitch… And when everyone was out of the building we all met in the V.I.P. room to relax (to say the least).

From the V.I.P. there was a ladder to the roof.., and me and a few of the other guys climbed up to take a look at the street -- they were about 40-50 thugs waiting for us outside and trying to pry the back doors open -- it wasn't over… As we are looking down at these animals smashing car windows, throwing things at the club -- about 4-5 big black vans come screeching to a halt, almost running most of these guys down.., and a bunch of security from all over the city start jumping out of these vans.., and beat the shit out of everyone on the street.

And we watched the whole thing from the roof -- drinking good tequila and smoking weed… It was crazy!

What was even crazier was… The whole time these security guys were beating the hell out of everyone out there -- there were cop cars at each end of the block… They wouldn't come down the street -- just like they would never come in the club… If shit went down -- you were on your own…

At about 6:00am Brett the GM and Big Mike tell us they are going to "make the drop." Every night, no matter what.., they would take all the cash (over 100K) and make a night drop… And they were total pros at it. They would use a different car every night. Take a different route to the drop, every night.

So, as we all stayed and partied our faces off in the V.I.P…, and off they went… It normally took about 2o minutes and they would be back and parting with the rest of us… Well, over an hour had gone by.., and they weren't back, yet. People started getting nervous -- but Big Mike was with him, so everyone just blew it off and kept partying… About an hour later -- Brett, the GM comes walking into the V.I.P. room with blood all over his clothes…

"They were waiting for us -- the motherfuckers ambushed us. The whole car is riddled with bullets.., Big Mike got hit in the leg and foot. We had to throw the money out of the window -- they stole all the fucking money!"

We all waited there until about 9-10:00am for Big Mike to get out of the hospital.., and the first thing he said was -- "Where's my line -- I want the biggest line this place has ever seen, right now…" Needless to say, that was not a problem… We partied until about 3:00pm.., and all of us had to be back at work that night --

It was Friday night, the busiest night of the week -- Jesus Christ!

We all assumed that was the end of "hip-hop night" at the Red Zone -- but we were wrong. The club was contracted to do at least 6 more… My girlfriend, Nancy.., a fellow bartender -- was pissed at management… "You're not working on Thursday, it's way too dangerous!" She must have said that phrase a million times…

Our GM called and invited us to dinner at Peter Luger's Steakhouse.., down at the base of the Williamsburg Bridge on our night off -- the most famous steakhouse around, dating back to pre-1900's. He told us not to come to work the coming Thursday night -- the owners have no right to put your lives in danger -- and don't worry, your jobs are safe.

There plan was to call in a bunch of catering bartenders -- and not serve ANY alcohol. There was nothing in the contract that said alcohol had to be served… Once the promoters heard, they cancelled the contract and The Red Zone was off the hook. And yes, there was another drive-by shooting that last night, only this time the cops were waiting at the end of the block and busted perpetrators…

The Good Ol' Days…

Post Script:

Finally, we could get back to making some money.., and have having a little fun, at the same time. CHEERS!


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