Victor Drai (born July 25, 1947) is a Franco-American[1][2] nightclub owner, entrepreneur and film producer.[3] Drai rose to prominence in the 1980s, producing the movies The Woman in Red (1984) and Weekend at Bernie's (1989), before leaving the industry to open a string of high-profile restaurants and nightclubs.[4][5][6]
Early life
Drai was born in Casablanca, Morocco, to Jewish parents. He dropped out of school at 14 to move to Paris, France, with his family. In 1968, he launched a ready-to-wear line called Vicadam, which featured velvet jeans.[7]
In 1974, Drai met Jacqueline Bisset on a flight from Los Angeles to Paris and the two began a transatlantic relationship.[8] Drai sold the fashion line and relocated to the United States to be with Bisset and began a new business flippingBeverly Hills mansions.[7]
In 1985, Victor Drai Productions had set up a two-year, non-exclusive pact with MGM/UA Entertainment Co., whereas the first of the film projects were set up for the start of the fall of 1985, and represent the directorial debut of actor Henry Winkler.[12]
Restaurants and nightclubs
In 1993, Drai made the decision to open a restaurant, which he felt would be a more family-friendly career.[4] He contracted French chef Claude Segal, who'd replaced Wolfgang Puck at the upscale restaurant Ma Maison in 1985.[13] With Segal, he opened the restaurant Drai's at 730 La Cienega Boulevard on Restaurant Row in Los Angeles.[citation needed]
In 1995, Drai opened a second Drai's in Las Vegas. A couple years later, he started an afterhours club, "That started everything", Drai stated.[14] In December 2013, he opened a steakhouse on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles called Rare by Drai's.[15]
In March 2010, he opened Drai's Hollywood, a rooftop restaurant, pool and nightclub at the W Hotel in Hollywood.[16]
In 1997, Drai opened Drai's restaurant on the Las Vegas Strip.[17] Two years later, Drai added a nightclub to the restaurant, re-branding it Drai's After Hours.[18] In Vegas Seven's 2012 Nightclub Awards, Drai's After Hours won "Best Place to Disappear".[19] He currently operates Drai's After Hours nightclub at The Cromwell Las Vegas.[20]
In 2007, Drai took over La Bete at Wynn Las Vegas and re-branded it Tryst.[21] In 2012, Vegas Seven's Nightclub Awards awarded Tryst "Best Place to Impress".[22] In 2013, Tryst placed #8 in the Top 100 Nightclub & Bar Roster for Nightclub & Bar Magazine.[23]
Drai opened XS nightclub at Encore Las Vegas in 2008.[24] In 2010, XS won Nightclub & Bar Awards for "New Club of the Year" and "Mega-Club of the Year.[25] " In 2013, Nightclub & Bar Magazine awarded XS the "Mega-Club of the Year.[26] " Technomic named XS number one nightclub in the US for 2010.[27] In 2010, Drai was bought out of his managing partnership at Steve Wynn's Tryst and XS to pursue other endeavors.[28]
On March 2, 2017, he opened Drai's Vancouver which was located inside Trump International Hotel & Tower Vancouver.[29]
The club closed down in September 2018.[30]
He opened Drai's Beachclub & Nightclub,[31] on Memorial Day weekend 2014, at The Cromwell Las Vegas.[32] This 65,000-square-foot venue has a party pool and an indoor/outdoor club spread out over two levels on top of the new Cromwell Hotel.[33] Drai also opened a beach club and a nightclub in Dubai and plans to expand his empire to other cities.[34]
Drai is one of sixteen professionals listed in the Nightclub Hall of Fame.[35]
Personal life
Drai was a romantic and business partner of Jacqueline Bisset's from 1973 to 1980.[36][self-published source] Drai has been married three times. In 1984, he married Kelly LeBrock; their marriage ended two years later in 1986. His second marriage was in 1990 to Loryn Locklin. On April 24, 2016, he married his third wife, Yolanda Krupiarz.[37] Drai has one son, Dustin Drai, who is vice president of entertainment and marketing for Drai's Beachclub, Nightclub and Afterhours; and three young daughters.[citation needed]
Filmography
He was a producer in all films unless otherwise noted.[citation needed]
