Not My First Rodeo, a new country western restaurant and bar, is set to open on Thursday in Old Town Scottsdale.
The concept is the latest from Ben Foreman and Justin Massey, the duo who opened 50 Shades of Rose and Almost Famous in 2022. In a similar fashion to those openings, Foreman and Massey are debuting a second concept, The Renaissance Cocktail Club, right next door to Not My First Rodeo at the end of the month.
While neighbors, the new concepts will be very different in vibe and focus.
“We’re going after two separate things, just like with 50 Shades and Almost Famous. 50 Shades is for the everyday person who wants a drink and good food with a crazy atmosphere, and Almost Famous is that nightclub, house music scene where you go afterwards to dance the night away," Foreman says. "Here, you’re coming for a country cowboy experience, upscale bar food, a fun happy hour and live music. Then next door at Renaissance Cocktail Club, we focus on the after-dinner drink, the nightcap with familiar bartenders, that second location when going out to continue the night in a cool, atmospheric fashion."
What to expect at Not My First Rodeo
The boot-scootin’ new space came about as a result of feedback from Old Town patrons who love country music, but did not see what they were looking for in the current bars.“Country is just so popular with our clientele right now, and we really wanted to showcase that, along with our food. Our musical format is going to be with live DJs and bands, with about 75% country and mashups, and then some sing-alongs and old-school rock and roll,” Massey says.
Food offerings focus on bar staples with a honky tonk twist. Starters include fried pickles, cheese curds, loaded waffle fries, chili, walking tacos and wings.
“50 Shades is sometimes a party bar, but we developed some great dishes there. The wings are, I think, the best in the city. So we are going to be bringing them here, along with some new offerings that fit the feel of this space,” Foreman says.
Not My First Rodeo will also serve a wide assortment of burgers, salads and sandwiches, such as a Sloppy Joe and a Nashville Hot Chicken selection. A weekend brunch offering is also in the works.
To drink, there are a few draft beer options, but Not My First Rodeo leans heavily on canned beer and wine (served in plastic cups, naturally). The bar menu also serves 12 cocktails and some particularly questionable shots, that, if consumed, will garner a polaroid picture on the bar wall.
“There will be ranch shots that combine vodka and ranch dressing, Flamin’ Hot Shots, Glizzy Water and more, and if you are brave enough to down them, you get to go up on the wall," Foreman says.
The influence of Nashville’s Broadway Street, which is a hub for both honky tonks and bachelorette parties, is another inspiration for Foreman and Massey.
“We have so many bachelorette parties that would come through Old Town and visit 50 Shades, and they have a blast but were wanting something that was a little more in line with the Nashville scene,” Massey says.
To help with capturing the Broadway Street vibe, Foreman and Massey leaned on their team at Not My First Rodeo, who scoured antique stores, estate sales and social media for the perfect pieces to bring the concept life.
A giant “Honky Tonk Heroes” mural works like a Mount Rushmore of twang, with larger-than-life images of Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Willie Nelson and others. In the back, there's a quintessential vintage “grandma couch,” with busy floral patterns and synthetic velour cushions for the living room wing. The set features a bear skin, a taxidermied eight-point buck, a wooden television set and dozens of framed photos of various 1970s television Westerns, giving the corner of the bar a “let’s watch Lonesome Dove on VHS while Grand-Pappy takes a nap” feel.
Asta Young, the team’s creative and marketing director, rounded out the decor with tons of Western-themed images. There are a lot of components that should clash, but the team have deftly woven the threads of high-concept bar food with a rustic saloon, with some flashes of the modern pop country touchpoints thrown in for good measure.
What's on deck at Renaissance Cocktail Club
As for Renaissance Cocktail Club, Massey and Foreman see that venture as a more low-key, sophisticated affair.“We’re wanting folks that want that excellent last call experience, that one last cocktail in the perfect spot, for Renaissance to be their place,” Foreman explains.
Along with drinks, there will be a variety of smaller food portions, including desserts, perfect for finishing off an evening.
With the new spots opening, Massey and Foreman will enter 2025 with four concepts in Old Town Scottsdale.
“The nice thing is that there are so many quality places in this neighborhood, if you do something here, it’s expected to be good. And everybody benefits as a result. We know the wings are good. We know folks are clamoring for country music. We know there is a market for this combination of food and music,” Foreman says.
Given their experience and projections, it's obvious that this is, indeed, not Foreman and Massey’s first rodeo, nor will it be their last.
Not My First Rodeo
Opening Dec. 197150 E. Sixth Ave., Suite B, Scottsdale
Renaissance Cocktail Club
Opening late December 7150 E. Sixth Ave., Suite A, Scottsdale
