Like a lot of people, Ashley Oglesby found herself without a job after the pandemic hit. “I didn’t know what was going to happen, especially with the restaurant industry,” she says. “At that point it was scary because this career is my passion—it’s what I’ve done for so long.”
Oglesby flourished within the Las Vegas food and beverage industry, working her way up from a hostess to her previous position as assistant general manager at Searsucker at Caesars Palace. She’s worked in hot-spot restaurants on and off the Strip for more than a decade, but she found herself out of a job at the end of last year. And just when she thought she might have to switch careers, she got a call to come help open and manage Palace Station’s new sports bar, Tailgate Social.
“It was an amazing opportunity,” Oglesby says. “It’s the strongest leadership role I’ve had, and I take so much pride in it. It’s been so rewarding, especially during a time like this.”
As the general manager, she’s responsible for the whole Tailgate team, keeping up on trends in the industry, helping with menu creations and brushing up on her sports knowledge. “Every day I’m constantly learning and growing; there’s always something new going on,” she says. “I’m just so grateful and humbled by it. I’m just amazed how far I’ve come in this industry. I’m a pretty young female and I didn’t think I’d be this far before my 30s, into a GM position. That strong work ethic has always been there.”
Oglesby is also grateful and happy to be working at a place where locals and visitors alike can come and enjoy themselves in a fun yet safe environment. “People are grateful just to have a place to come out to,” she says. “Have that environment for people to go to where they can cheer on their favorite team, have a cocktail, some food, some fun. We’re trying to take people’s minds off of what is going on in the world for a little bit.”
Libation: Sweet Chin Music
“Here it’s like the tailgate never ends,” Oglesby says. “You get to dine. Watch a game. Get a craft cocktail on draft.” Like the Sweet Chin Music—one of 10 cocktails on draft. The refreshing cocktail is mixed with tequila, pineapple juice and cherry orgeat syrup. All of Tailgate Social’s specialty cocktails are named after different sports references. Sweet Chin Music is the name of a superkick move wrestler Shawn Michaels performed in the ring.
Benefit: This deal is a major score! All-you-can-drink tequila shots and margaritas for just $19, every Tuesday.
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