Cabo Wabo comes to Fresno
Rushgedlife
Creator Sammy Hagar is expected to visit soon.
Mike Osegueda / The Fresno Bee
08/26/08
Fresno's Cabo Wabo Cantina is opening this week after months of
anticipation.
Cabo Wabo -- at 3950 N. Cedar Ave., Suite 101, in the Granite Park
complex -- opens tonight for three private nights, before its public
grand opening at 11 a.m. Friday. The cantina is the creation of rocker
Sammy Hagar (formerly of Van Halen), who started the restaurant, bar
and live music venue in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. There's a second
location in Lake Tahoe. Fresno's Wabo is the third.
For the grand-opening festivities, Aaron Hagar, Sammy's son, will
perform, Granite Park developer Milt Barbis says. Barbis also says
Cabo Uno, the house band from the original Cabo Wabo location, will
play here soon.
Hagar himself also can be expected in Fresno soon, says Barbis, though
the date is being kept a secret. It should be within the first month.
Hagar friend Michael Anthony, the ex-Van Halen bass player, is
expected to be in Fresno next week. Part of the allure of Cabo Wabo is
that Hagar's star power attracts drop-in guests.
"Fresno has always been good to [Hagar]," Barbis says. "So he's really
excited to do this for the city."
Rushgedlife
Mike Osegueda / The Fresno Bee
You've watched the construction. You've heard the chatter. You've
waited patiently.
And now, the time is here: Fresno's Cabo Wabo Cantina is opening
today.
Cabo Wabo -- a hybrid restaurant, bar and nightclub -- is the creation
of rocker Sammy Hagar of Van Halen fame.
He opened a location in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, another in Lake Tahoe
and now a third in Fresno, at Granite Park.
Cabo Wabo is like Sammy's own spin on House of Blues; a place to eat,
listen to music and party -- but tequila-tinged, with a tropical feel
and a love for the "Cabo State of Mind."
Whether you're looking to grab some grub, see a show or sip a drink on
the patio -- here's what you need to know before heading over to
Fresno Wabo.
The setup
Cabo Wabo's interior is built for quick changes. Tables and chairs
move to make way for late-night music and dancing. The floor area can
be filled with either diners or dancers, depending on the time.
Dining capacity is about 400 -- and that increases for concerts or
late-night dancing.
There's a stage area that doubles as more restaurant seating. Once the
tables are moved and a black rail is retracted, it becomes a stage
area. Behind the stage is a half-circle-shaped area of seating that
can be a VIP area for dining and shows.
Across from the stage, in between the two inside bars, is the Red Rock
Lounge, which will be decorated ultra-lounge style. It can hold 40-60
people and can be reserved for private parties. An outdoor patio
houses another bar and more seating.
The back story
So just how did Fresno land a Cabo Wabo Cantina?
Developer Milt Barbis has a cousin in the music industry, John Barbis,
who happens to be really good friends with Sammy Hagar.
Milt Barbis and Hagar got in touch about the idea of opening a Cabo
Wabo in Fresno and it all clicked.
"He's excited about it," Barbis says about Hagar. "He's always loved
Fresno.
This is where he feels like he got his first big break with his band
Montrose. When you see him here, you're going to see him beaming that
he's coming back to his roots."
The music
Expect lots of good time rock 'n' roll at Cabo Wabo. For the opening,
the house band from the Cabo San Lucas location will be in Fresno. It
will be play rock covers as well as Hagar songs.
Soon, a Fresno house band will be selected. The idea is to have a set
house band that can back up any guest performers who might come to
town.
When there's not a band, expect music from a DJ. There's an elevated
DJ booth about 20 feet in the air, above the cabana bar.
The bars
There are three bars -- each with a bit of a different feel. The main
bar is slick -- something out of a fancy nightclub. It lights up and
is about 25 feet long. There's a second indoor bar that's modeled
after a cabana. The third bar is outside and is intended to be like a
tiki bar.
The menu
The Cabo Wabo menu ranges from fun appetizers like Sammy's Drunken
Shrimp (saut�ed in tequila, of course, for $11) to more high-end
dinners like the coffee-crusted filet mignon ($28.95).
The lobster burrito -- filled with Maine lobster -- is a $28
selection. But if you're looking for cheaper fare, there's also stuff
like street tacos on the menu. Late-nighters are in luck too -- food
is served until closing.
BY THE NUMBERS
1: Closing time, as in 1 a.m.
3: Number of bars
60: cost (in dollars) of premium margarita El Ultimo
175: Types of tequila stocked
180: Number of employees
200: Length (in feet) of Cabo Wabo from end to end
300: Possible different light shows
14,000: Square footage
The Mighty TB
(snip)
Whether you're looking to grab some grub, see a show or sip a drink on
the patio -- here's what you need to know before heading over to
Fresno Wabo.
+++++++
Hagar had to select Fresno to open this place because there's nothing else
for miles and miles that would possibly offer any competition (although I'm
sure there's a local McDonalds or Wendys that will be tough to beat) in that
crappy desert shithole.
Maybe he should consider Barstow for his next location.
T.B.