Rodman gives restaurant some cash, flash

Mathis Winkler

NEWPORT BEACH -- Dennis Rodman’s been around.

He’s rocked and shocked the basketball world with his outrageous

outfits and piercings galore.

He’s ventured into cyberspace, inviting everyone with an Internet

connection to virtually join parties at his West Newport Beach home.

Those parties also set record numbers for police calls, causing the

department to fine him several thousand dollars.

He’s been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of

alcohol and for public drunkenness.

He’s done his fair share of movie appearances, most recently

portraying a drug-smuggling skydiver in “Cutaway.”

But while most Newport Beach residents have been observing Rodman’s

endeavors from a distance, witnessing his latest coup will only require a

trip to 2601 W. Coast Highway.

That’s Josh Slocums Restaurant. Its owner said Monday that Rodman is

helping out with his celebrity, cash and creativity to turn the ailing

seafood joint into a “casual, kicked-back restaurant” featuring a “very

cool, eclectic menu.”

“Dennis is lending me some money to fix my place,” said Kevin

Finegold, who has owned the restaurant for about five years. “He’s my

interior designer.”

Finegold did not want to disclose the amount of money he has received

from Rodman nor give details on how much he’s spending to remodel the

restaurant.

Rodman’s associates confirmed the ex-basketball star had given

Finegold a personal loan and got involved in the creative side of things

as well.

“Dennis kind of helped [Finegold] design it,” said Pat Conners, who

works with Rodman.

The man himself could not be reached for comment Monday.

Finegold said he’d simply lacked the money to turn his restaurant into

something special. He also has not paid about $315 in annual city taxes

businesses must pay and faces fines, according to city officials.

“Newport Beach needs something fresh,” Finegold said. “But I don’t

have the resources.”

Rodman’s been a regular at Josh Slocums for years, Finegold said,

adding that he and the eccentric star became friends. Approaching Rodman

for a little help seemed like the natural thing to do.

“Look, Dennis, if you’ve got a little extra money, I need some new

interior stuff,” Finegold remembered telling Rodman. “That’s what Dennis

is bringing to the table.”

Just a few weeks ago, the restaurant lay deserted and whiffs of stale

alcohol greeted passersby at the locked front door. Neighboring

businesspeople said Josh Slocums had pretty much closed except for the

occasional private parties on weekends.

But visitors to the Victorian-style building Monday could catch a few

glimpses of what’s about to happen.

Gardeners hacked open a little frontyard to rearrange some plants, and

moving trucks filled the small parking lot. Brown paper covered the

restaurant’s bay-front windows, but newly arrived leopard skin and red

velvet sofas peeked out in between.

Finegold said he’s not planning to completely renovate his place, but

rather that he’d clean things, put in new carpets and paint the walls.

And it’s all Rodman’s designer instincts working away, Finegold said.

“It’s his look, his feel,” he said. “It doesn’t matter to me as long

as people come through the door because it’s a celebrity that’s designed

it.”

As far as the menu’s concerned, Finegold said he was aiming for

something he calls “nouveau Latino cuisine.”

He said he’ll serve sandwiches and “tapas-style stuff,” adding that

there will also be lots of coffee and freshly squeezed juices.

“It’ll have a laid-back, Miami feel,” he said, adding that he plans to

open for business every night, as well as during lunch time.

If things go according to plan, Rodman’s Josh Slocums could welcome

its first patrons within two weeks, Finegold said.

“It’ll be beautiful,” Finegold said. “I want a real diverse group of

people who do not spend $100 a person to have a crab and lobster. There’s

already enough of that.”