Rusty Spur Saloon
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The Rusty Spur Saloon in Old Town Scottsdale is known for its ice-cold drinks and live music seven nights a week. And anyone who’s swung through the wooden saloon doors to listen to the band or chow down on a Cowboy Burger knows the walls are lined with signed and stapled dollar bills.
However, the Sharpie-covered dollars are more than just decoration. These singles have added up to a $7,000 donation for Phoenix Children’s.
“These dollar bills symbolize not only the memories made here but also the potential to make a difference in our community,” says Janeth Moore, operations manager of the Rusty Spur Saloon.
Patrons have contributed the dollars between drinks and turns on the dance floor all year long. Recently, staff peeled down each bill, collecting a total of $7,000. Last year, the annual tradition raised $6,000 for the children’s hospital.
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While it might seem a bit funny to donate dollars that say “Madison the Birthday Bitch” or feature a hand-drawn map of the state of Nebraska to sick kids, the money’s good and every bit helps.
“We are deeply grateful to Rusty Spur Saloon and their customers for their continued commitment to Phoenix Children’s,” says Jordan Olstead, the corporate development officer at Phoenix Children’s Foundation. “Their generosity helps fund critical programs and brings hope and healing to the patients and families we serve.”
According to a news release, the donation will help support over 170 different programs, including investments in new technology and new clinical programs.
The dollar-covered walls have long been a tradition at the Rusty Spur, one of Old Town’s oldest bars. The saloon started serving cold drinks in 1951 in a former bank. The building dates back to 1921 and maintains its historic charm. A former bank vault was turned into a refrigerator which now keeps those drinks cold.
The bar, and its characteristic leg-shaped, cowboy boot and panty-clad plastic barstools, have welcomed everyone from Old Town revelers and bachelorette parties to famous musicians, including Dierks Bentley and Post Malone.
With the annual tradition, the longstanding bar turns debauchery into donations, putting those drunken nights to good use.
Rusty Spur Saloon
7245 E. Main St., Scottsdale
