Chi Chi Fazzari, once a famous mambo dancer, ran for President of the United States in 1988 because she said she was disgusted by conventional politicians. As history tells us, she did not win.

So, what would any red-blooded American do after a presidential defeat? Buy a brothel in Tonopah, of course! This is the story of Chi Chi, the self-proclaimed “Cuban Fireball,” who fought to reopen a historic venue featuring the desert’s famous ladies of the evening.

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TRANSCRIPT

This is the story of Chi Chi Fazzari—a retired mambo dancer, millionaire real estate investor, and one-time presidential candidate—who made a bold bid for the White House in 1988, only to pivot into an even more unexpected venture.

It’s 1988. A fiery woman named Chi Chi Fazzari, once known as, and self-described as, the “Cuban Fireball,” decided to throw her hat into the ring for the highest office in the land. But who was Chi Chi Fazzari, and what inspired her to take on the political establishment?

Chi Chi, born Clarita Fazarri, grew up with big dreams. In the 1950s, she became a West Coast sensation, known for her fiery mambo and rumba moves. Dazzling crowds in nightclubs, Chi Chi was a symbol of glamour and grace, dancing in fringed costumes that sparkled under the lights. Her vibrant personality earned her the nickname "Cuban Fireball," and she quickly became a fixture of the scene.

But Chi Chi wasn’t just about the dance floor. She had a keen business sense, and after marrying a wealthy furniture dealer, she divorced him in 1973 with a hefty $800,000 settlement. Soon after, she made millions investing in California and Nevada real estate, proving that she could hustle just as well in the business world as she had on the dance floor.

But, like many who rise to success, Chi Chi grew disillusioned with the status quo. In 1988, she was fed up with what she saw as a stale political system, dominated by career politicians with no fresh ideas. So, she did what any self-made, confident, and enterprising woman would do: she registered to run for President of the United States.

Chi Chi’s platform was simple. She wasn’t a politician—she was a businessperson who knew how to get things done. Her opponents in the 1988 race included George H. W. Bush, the vice president, and Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis. But Chi Chi didn’t seem to mind. She wasn’t in it for the fame, the fortune, or the political games. She was in it because, as she said, she was “disgusted by conventional politicians.”

Unfortunately, Chi Chi didn’t win. But that didn’t stop her. If anything, it seems to have fired up her entrepreneurial spirit even more.

In 1989, Chi Chi did something that you might not expect from a former mambo dancer and presidential candidate. She did what all red blooded Americans would do after a presidential defeat, and purchased a Tonopah, Nevada brothel.

Enter Bobbie’s Buckeye Bar, a brothel located on Highway 6 just east of town. Chi Chi had made her mark as a savvy investor, so when she heard about this business opportunity, she saw potential. Bobbie’s Buckeye Bar was known as the classiest brothel between Las Vegas and Reno—reliable, reputable, and operating under Nevada’s unique laws that allowed legal brothels in certain counties.

The Buckeye Bar had been around since 1952 and had operated under a special “grandfather clause,” meaning it was exempt from a newer ordinance that required brothels to be a certain distance away from the road. The ordinance stated that brothels needed to be at least 300 yards away from any highway or road. But the Buckeye Bar sat just 100 yards from the road—grandfathered in due to its long history.

But here’s where things get tricky. In 1989, Bobbie Duncan, the former owner, passed away. The brothel closed temporarily between owners, and some people wondered whether the grandfather clause would still apply. Turns out, it didn’t. Nye County had updated its rules, and Chi Chi’s new business venture—her freshly purchased brothel—no longer met the requirements.

The problem was this, as we mentioned earlier: the new ordinance stated that a brothel had to be at least 300 yards away from the road, and the Buckeye Bar was only 100 yards from the highway. Chi Chi didn’t know about the change when she bought the property, and she soon found herself tangled in legal battles. She fought it in court, but the local commissioners, backed by resistance from area churches, refused to budge.

Despite Chi Chi’s efforts, she could never get the proper license to reopen the brothel. Her dream of running a successful Nevada brothel was thwarted by bureaucracy, outdated ordinances, and, perhaps, a little bit of moral opposition from the local community.

But that wasn’t the end of Chi Chi’s ambitions. Undeterred, she ran for President again in 1992. Unfortunately, history would repeat itself. She didn’t win. But imagine this: what if she had? What if, instead of just challenging the political system as an outsider, Chi Chi Fazzari had actually become the President? Could she have ushered in a new era—one where brothels were as accepted as casinos, where her energy and management skills could have changed the game?

We’ll never know. But Chi Chi Fazzari’s life proves that sometimes the road less traveled can be the most interesting one. From mambo dancer to millionaire real estate mogul, from presidential hopeful to brothel owner—Chi Chi lived her life on her own terms, taking risks and breaking barriers along the way.

Chi Chi passed away in 2011.

In late 2021, Bobbie's Buckeye Bar, the once-thriving brothel in Tonopah, was consumed by flames and burned to the ground. With it, a piece of the town’s spirit was lost—an emblem of a wilder, more unconventional time. But even as the smoke cleared, Chi Chi Fazzari’s legacy remained. Her bold decisions and fierce determination left behind a story that continues to resonate—a story that inspires those daring enough to follow their own, untrodden paths.

Her journey was a testament to the power of reinvention and the courage to defy expectations. She was a woman who didn’t just accept the status quo; she shattered it, proving that the most unlikely candidates, with the wildest ideas, can change the game.

So, the next time you hear about an outsider, an underdog, or a dreamer with a vision, remember Chi Chi’s story. For in the most unexpected places, the most remarkable ideas are waiting to be discovered—and the road less traveled often leads to the most unforgettable destinations.

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Also check out:

Chicago Tribune. (1988, July 7). It’s Bush, Dukakis and Fazzari. Retrieved from https://www.chicagotribune.com/1988/07/07/its-bush-dukakis-and-fazzari

CampaignMoney.com. (n.d.). Committee to elect Clarita Fazzari president of the United States. Retrieved from https://www.campaignmoney.com/political/committees/committee-to-elect-clarita-fazzari-president-of-the-united-states.asp?cycle=00

Nye County Assessor. (2024). Parcel information: 00836302. Retrieved from https://nyenv-assessor.devnetwedge.com/parcel/view/00836302/2024

Nye County History. (n.d.). An interview with Bob Perchetti. Retrieved from https://nyecountyhistory.com/perchettibb/An%20Interview%20with%20Bob%20Perchetti%20-%20Robert%20McCracken.txt Federal Election Commission. (n.d.). Candidate: Clarita Fazzari (P80002454). Retrieved from https://www.fec.gov/data/candidate/P80002454/?tab=about-candidate&cycle=2008&election_full=true

Nye County History. (n.d.). Mr. Bottom interview. Retrieved from https://nyecountyhistory.com/bottom/bottom.pdf

Pahrump Valley Times. (n.d.). Changes in Tonopah: Taxscine dies of a broken heart. Retrieved from https://pvtimes.com/news/changes-in-tonopah-taxscine-dies-of-a-broken-heart/

Tonopah Times-Bonanza & Goldfield News. (2011, February 18). Retrieved from https://cat.stparchive.com/Archive/CAT/CAT02182011p06.php McCracken, R. D. (2014). An interview with Bobby Davis: An oral history. Nye County Town History Project.

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