Founder Michael Morton | Founded 1999 | |
The N9NE Group is a partnership that owns and operates restaurants and nightclubs at the Palms Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, and formerly in Chicago and Dallas. The N9NE Group was founded by Michael Morton and Scott DeGraff. The two were friends since age nine, which is the source of the company's name. The son of restaurateur Arnie Morton, Morton grew up in the restaurant business, while DeGraff pursued a career as a real estate attorney.
Contents
History
In 1992 Morton and DeGraff partnered and launched the nightclub Drink and Eat, Too in Chicago. They went on to open Drink in Las Vegas in 1995. N9NE Steakhouse and Ghostbar opened in Chicago in 2000.
In 2001, George J. Maloof, Jr. of the Maloof family and owner of the Palms Hotel and Casino asked DeGraff and Morton to recreate their Chicago steakhouse Nine and after-hours Ghostbar at the Palms. N9NE opened Rain Nightclub, Ghostbar, N9NE Steakhouse, and Skin Pool Lounge - all at the Palms. In Dallas, Morton and DeGraff partnered with Ross Perot Jr. to create a "new urban showcase" in Victory Park feature Nove Italiano, N9NE Steakhouse, Ghostbar and the retail store Stuff.
The N9NE Group, in conjunction with Green Mountain Energy's BeGreen Business division, works to make its nightclubs environmentally-conscious. In 2007, the N9NE Group offset 100% of its electricity usage by purchasing renewable energy credits (RECs) made from wind and biomass sources. The company also offers guests the opportunity to purchase a "BeGreen" ticket to help the company continue to purchase RECs. The N9NE Group has used Sustainable Waves' solar powered lighting and sound equipment at many of its events.
For Earth Day 2009, the N9NE Group unveiled the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada's (RTC) first Grease BUs, powered by used vegetable oil from N9NE Steakhouse.
Playboy Club at the Fantasy Tower at the Palms
In 2006, N9NE opened the Playboy Club at the Fantasy Tower at the Palms, the first Playboy Club since 1988, in partnership with Playboy Enterprises. Michael Morton's father, Chicago restaurateur Arnie Morton, built and operated the original chain of Playboy nightclubs. The Las Vegas Playboy Club closed summer 2012.
N9NE Steakhouse
The original N9NE Steakhouse in Chicago was open prior to Palms Casino Resort owner George Maloof's offer to partner with Morton and DeGraff to replicate the steakhouse at his new hotel. Condé Nast Traveler called the original N9NE Steakhouse “one of the newest, hottest and best places to eat in the entire world,” while John Mariani of Wine Spectator dubbed it “the hottest of Chicago’s new restaurants.” The Las Vegas N9NE Steakhouse earned honors as one of “America’s Best Restaurants” from Gourmet magazine.
When the Palms opened its doors in 2001, it housed not only the Las Vegas edition of N9NE Steakhouse, but three other N9NE Group venues as well: Rain Nightclub, ghostbar, and Skin Pool Lounge.