Source: Michael Walsh, GM, Rum Runners
15 years ago there was only one Rum Runners in the USA. And as the live entertainment bar and restaurant chain has grown to be in 5 states and entertain hundreds of thousands of guests over many years, one thing has remained the same - it all started in Downtown Lansing, Michigan.
To celebrate its 15th year of operation, Rum Runners is throwing a month long birthday celebration. "After 15 great years in Lansing, one day to celebrate was just not enough. We decided the best way to really remember all the great times was to have a month long party so everyone could participate," Mike Walsh, General Manager at Rum Runners said. "We are really looking forward to seeing all the smiling faces, having lots of laughs, and creating some great memories with friends old and new," Walsh said.
During the entire month of June, Rum Runners will be hosting several different theme parties that will transform the facility each week. The Dueling Piano Show you have grown to love, as well as the DJs, dance club, and fun atmosphere will be in top form for upcoming events like Neon Weekend, Walk the Red Carpet Mania, an all out Pig Roast, as well as a traditional Beach Party. The final big event of the month long Birthday Bash will be a Rum Tasting party where guests will be able to try a variety of exotic drinks featuring Rum from around the globe. Tickets will be available during the month of June for this special event that will round out the month-long celebration.
"The plan is that customers who have loved the Rum Runners concept for over a decade will come out to celebrate with us. We have already heard from many past employees and friends who plan to attend during the month to toast the special birthday," David Schneider, Managing Partner, commented. Schneider said that people have been calling for weeks about what types of events the business is planning to do for the celebration.
Michael Scozzafave, a native of Lansing and Michigan State University graduate, developed the Rum Runners concept in 1995. Downtown Lansing was going through a major transition. A new baseball team and 10,000 seat stadium had been opened in Lansing and the city had rededicated itself to the revitalization of downtown. Ongoing projects included The Lansing Center and a redeveloped Capitol area - all with the intention to drive the development of a new entertainment district. With this knowledge Scozzafave found a location at 601 E. Michigan Ave. for the first Rum Runners location. It was directly across the street from the baseball stadium and in the middle of everything downtown. As it turned out 15 years later, it was the perfect spot!
Over the years Rum Runners in Lansing has evolved from a "bar and gill" venue to a multi-concept entertainment facility. With a tropical theme throughout, guests enjoy one of the region's most popular dance clubs on the main level and the World Famous Dueling Piano Show upstairs. The combination of different styles of entertainment makes Rum Runners appealing to people of all ages and is one of the reasons for the longevity the business has enjoyed in downtown Lansing. It is normal to see guests range from 21 to 60 on any night at the venue.
About Rum Runners® USA:
The Rum Runners theme consists of a tropical Caribbean style with palm trees, thatched roof tiki huts, island style shacks, tropical colors, lush foliage and much more. The facilities are designed to take customers on a trip to a far away place where the sand is as white as the snow, the water is as blue as the sky and the sun is always shinning. The goal is to provide the customers with a "close to home" get away that proves to be a guaranteed good time. Basically - the ULTIMATE destination entertainment night spot!
The live interactive entertainment and unmatched atmosphere are the main attractions at Rum Runners. The dueling piano concept consists of two entertainers playing baby grand pianos simultaneously. They play a variety of hit songs from the 70's though today and focus heavily on audience participation. It is very common to hear the crowd singing the chorus of a song while the entertainers lead them on. The staff (known as "The Staff That Rocks") performs with the entertainers live on stage once per hour in what is called SHOWTIME! This is audience interaction at its finest, in which the staff leads the guests in a song and dance routine.
The wide variety of music, audience participation, high energy level, and sheer FUN make Rum Runners the place to be with family and friends! Rum Runners regularly attracts huge crowds each night and always promotes its motto of Great People, Great Music, Great Fun!
Rum Runners® USA is based corporately in Raleigh, NC. All media inquiries should be directed to James Auerbach, Vice President at (919) 844-5959 ext. 102 or via email at jauerbach@rumrunnersusa.com.