Yesterday an e-mail from publicity hound JE Englebert told us that, thanks to the “recessed and depressed economy,” admission to his club Prime “will no longer be driven by bottle sales. If someone looks good enough to get in and comes with the right attitude, they will get in without bottles … The days of catering to the assh*** who is willing to buy 6 bottles at the expense of the nice guy who wants to pay cover is over.” Yo, preesh the sentiment, but you might want to get your peeps onboard. We e-mailed one of Prime’s promoters to take advantage of the new policy and here’s the exchange that ensued.
Grub Street: Hi, wondering what the deal is if I want to reserve a table this Friday night for me and my boys– maybe about 5 of us around 11pm? Is there a fee or can I just lock down the table?
Prime: U can lock down a table no prob what’s the rsvp under
Grub Street: nice it’ll be under Russ Hanes, so no minimum charge for the table or bottle minimum or anything?
Prime: How many guys???
Grub Street: 5
Prime: I NEED NAME AND HOW MANY BOTTLES AND HOE MANY PEOPLE THANKS
Grub Street: It’ll be under Russ Hanes, 5 people, 1 bottle? 11pm on Fri?
Promoter: WE R AT PRIME ON SATURDAY ON FRIDAY WE R AT GUEST HOUSE WHICH NIGHT DO U WANT TO GO OUT
Grub Street: oh looking to go to prime, so i guess that’d be saturday night, 11pm.
Promoter: OK SO LETS TRY THIS AGAIN (CAUSE IM FORWARDING THIS TO MY BOTTLE HOST) WHAT NAME DO U NEED THE RSVP UNDER AND HOW MANY PEOPLE AND HOW MANY BOTTLES NOTE 5 PEOPLE IS 2 BOTTLES MINIUME
Grub Street: oh damn sorry, didn’t know there was a bottle minimum. i dont know if we can kill two bottles. we’re not the most experienced drinkers bro….
Given the promised “renovation of the club’s attitude” (“the new club will be built around a new and simple concept ‘to cater to the customer’”) we were hoping to get a message back — maybe something along the lines of “NO SWEAT I GOT U, JUST SHO UP + HAVE A GOOD TYME” — but nada. A classic case of no money, no honey. It’s like the place has turned back the clock to September 14, 2008!!
Update: We were eventually told that we could go to Guest House if one bottle was all we wanted. Our dreams of throwing down at Prime were crushed.
Earlier: The Last Days of Bottle Service?
