When Brandyn Tullis bought the Museum Club nightclub, he was too young to have a drink in his own establishment. He was also going to college and worked hard to keep his studies and his business in balance.
“To serve alcohol and to work the floor, you only have to be 19,” he said. “I really didn’t have issues with that so I was able to do all my duties. As far as ordering a drink, that was a different story.”
Now, Tullis is celebrating the 10th anniversary of owning this iconic Flagstaff club known to locals as “The Zoo.”
“There are a couple of reasons for that,” Tullis said. “Part of it is the history. It used to be taxidermy business in 1931.”
Some of the animals remain from the 1930s and 40s.
He says the “zoo” image remained during the 1950s because of the animals and because music was being showcased there and when things got going, people would say, “It
is like a zoo in here.”
The name stuck over the years probably for all the same reasons.
When he bought “The Zoo,” in 2005, Tullis was a criminal justice major at Northern Arizona University and headed for law school
“My senior year led me on a different path,” he said.
Tullis and his family members were looking for an investment when the club came up for sale. In the years that followed, the others decided the nightclub business was not for them and they bowed out. Tullis has remained with a different business partner.
The Zoo is known for presenting top notch country music acts.
“Jo Dee Messina will be here in August. Willie Nelson has played here lots of times,” he said.
Tullis says that these major country music stars and many others are accustomed to playing much larger venues, but the club has a reputation of being a great venue, a historical landmark and the management will go above and beyond for the artist.
“They like to play here,” he said.
The Museum Club is open 364 days a year. It is closed on Christmas.
“We have a potluck on Thanksgiving and we opened for Easter this year.”
He credits part of his success to his loyal staff who go the extra mile for the customer.
In fact, 16-year waitress Jean Bliss last year earned the Spirit of Service award given by the state.
His clientele runs the gamut from college students to an older, more mature crowd.
“This is a college town. On one hand, there are 17,000 undergrads and then you have retirees and some who have summer homes,” he said. “Just being on Route 66, you have tour groups from all over the world.”
This year, he is looking forward to being a major sponsor of the Flagstaff Rodeo that was resurrected last year.
“It had gone away and now it’s back,” he said.
He sells tickets and sponsors the kick-off party for the rodeo. For each ticket that is purchased, $10 of the cost is given directly to the rodeo.
“There is a huge interest. Last year, the turnout was phenomenal. It exceeded expectations.”
The rodeo is scheduled for June 25, 26 and 27 with a dance on Saturday night with a live band. FBN
To learn more about the rodeo, visit www.flagstaffrodeo.com.
By Patty McCormac
Flagstaff Business News