(Chuck Muth) – Walk into The Bootlegger Bistro on South Las Vegas Boulevard, and the first thing you’ll notice isn’t the glitter or glam – it’s the warmth.
The smell of garlic and tomato sauce fills the air. Live piano music drifts through the dining room. Framed photos of Sinatra, Elvis, and Sammy Davis Jr. look down from the walls.
It’s not just a restaurant. It’s old-school Vegas, preserved like a time capsule – and still proudly family-run.
At the heart of it all is Lorraine Hunt Bono: a singer, a successful businesswoman, and a proud Nevadan who once served as the state’s lieutenant governor.
Her journey from the smoky lounges of the Las Vegas Strip to the halls of Carson City is uniquely Nevadan – rooted in hard work, family values, and an unwavering belief in the promise of the Silver State.
A Life on the Stage – and Behind the Stove
Lorraine was born in Niagara Falls, New York, in 1939, but her family moved to Las Vegas in 1943.
Back then, Las Vegas wasn’t the entertainment capital of the world.
It was a desert town on the rise, and her parents – Maria and Al Perry – were part of a wave of immigrants and dreamers who helped build the city from the ground up.
Maria worked in kitchens across Las Vegas. She was the protege of well-known Las Vegas chef Dominic Piscatelli from Hollywood.
Lorraine, meanwhile, studied music and launched her career as a singer.
By 18, she was performing regularly at clubs and casinos throughout the state – from Lake Tahoe to Reno to the Strip.
She even appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show and did TV commercials for the Tropicana and Landmark Hotels.
In 1959, using money earned from her performances, Lorraine purchased a plot of land on the corner of Tropicana and Eastern.
In 1973, she opened The Bootlegger, a cozy restaurant inspired by her family’s Italian roots and her great-grandfather Luigi Zoia, who once sold homemade wine during Prohibition in upstate New York.
Lorraine’s mother ran the kitchen. Lorraine handled the front of the house. They served pizza, pasta, and wine in a room filled with live jazz and local talent.
The place became a hit with locals and entertainers alike.
Over time, the restaurant expanded. And in 2001, it moved to its current location on South Las Vegas Boulevard, just a short drive from the Strip.
Today, The Bootlegger Bistro is open 24/7, serving everyone from tourists and locals to judges, business owners, and visiting celebrities.
A Public Life Beyond the Kitchen
Lorraine’s passion for service didn’t stop at the restaurant door.
In 1994, she was elected to the Clark County Commission, representing District G, which included the Las Vegas Strip.
She became the first woman to chair the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, where she worked to promote Nevada as a top tourist destination.
In 1998, Lorraine ran for lieutenant governor of Nevada and won. She served two terms under Republican Governor Kenny Guinn.
As lieutenant governor, she also served as President of the State Senate and chaired both the Nevada Commission on Tourism and the Commission on Economic Development.
Lorraine with current Nevada Lt. Gov. Stavros Anthony
Following the 9/11 attacks, which devastated the tourism industry, Lorraine led efforts to rebuild the state’s economy by boosting travel and diversifying Nevada’s economic base.
She worked with small business owners, helped secure new air routes, and encouraged investment in communities across the state.
Though she didn’t win her 2006 bid for governor, she left public office with a strong record of pro-business leadership, fiscal conservatism, and common-sense solutions.
When Red Tape Gets in the Way
Running a restaurant is tough enough. But in today’s world, it’s become even harder thanks to layers of government regulation, rising costs, and endless red tape.
“It’s not just about cooking great food anymore,” Lorraine said in a 2020 interview with Business Press Vegas. “It’s about navigating a sea of regulations and keeping up with all the changes.”
Restaurant owners in Nevada must deal with overlapping city, county, state, and federal rules.
That includes health inspections, liquor licenses, minimum wage mandates, food safety regulations, tip-pooling laws, and unpredictable fees and audits.
Add in inflation, supply-chain challenges, and rising payroll taxes, and it’s no wonder so many restaurants struggle to stay open.
Lorraine’s story proves that even in a state as business-friendly as Nevada, small businesses still face major obstacles.
The Bootlegger survives because of family, legacy, and love – but not every restaurant is so lucky.
A Legacy Served with Every Plate
Despite the challenges, The Bootlegger Bistro continues to thrive.
It’s been featured on Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown, praised by Playboy magazine as one of America’s top bars, and recognized with numerous awards for excellence in dining and community service.
But fame was never the goal.
For Lorraine, it’s always been about serving her guests, preserving the charm of old Vegas, and keeping her family’s dream alive.
Inside the restaurant today, you’ll still see Lorraine greeting guests, telling stories, and sometimes even performing.
You’ll see regulars sitting in booths named after Elvis and Frank Sinatra.
You’ll see tourists discovering a slice of Las Vegas history they didn’t know existed.
It’s a place where tradition matters. Where business is personal. And where the American Dream is still on the menu.
Looking Ahead: Supporting Nevada’s Future Through Keystone
Lorraine Hunt Bono hasn’t stopped working to protect Nevada’s future.
She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Keystone Corporation, a Nevada-based political action committee dedicated to electing pro-business candidates to state office.
Founded in the 1990s, Keystone Corporation supports public officials who believe in low taxes, limited government, and private-sector job creation.
The organization is also a strong supporter of preserving Nevada’s two-thirds requirement for tax increases in the legislature – a key protection for taxpayers.
Keystone members include small business owners, job creators, and community leaders who want to keep Nevada a place where hard work still pays off.
The PAC offers events, issue briefings, and opportunities to engage with candidates who stand for economic freedom.
Lorraine’s story is more than just the tale of a successful restaurant. It’s a Nevada success story.
A story about taking risks, building something from scratch, and never backing down – whether from a bad economy, a tough election, or another round of government regulations.
At The Bootlegger, every plate tells part of that story. And every visitor becomes part of a legacy that proves you don’t need glitz or gimmicks to make it in Las Vegas.
You just need family, faith, good food – and a lot of fight.
So next time you’re in town, skip the big chain restaurants. Head down to South Las Vegas Boulevard. Walk into The Bootlegger. Order the chicken parm. Listen to the music. Shake Lorraine’s hand if you’re lucky.
And take a moment to remember what built this town in the first place.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
