The Pemberton’s pink flamingo mascot is a familiar sight on Downtown Phoenix’s Roosevelt Row. This summer, that symbol is helping build a bridge between nightlife and wildlife.
The venue recently partnered with the Phoenix Zoo to support the zoo’s conservation efforts. For Mel Nichols, The Pemberton’s general manager, the partnership reflects the venue’s roots.
“We’re owned by Phoenicians,” Nichols said. “We like to partner with nonprofits throughout the year to give back and be collaborative. This one just made sense.”
The Pemberton symbolically adopted a flamingo through the zoo’s program — a gesture that comes with a certificate and, at certain levels, a plush flamingo. The team is still debating a name. “Pedro has been thrown around,” Nichols said, amused.
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For Jordan Noble, marketing and communications manager at the Phoenix Zoo, the collaboration is a welcome one. “We love celebrating our animals with those who share the same admiration for wildlife and conservation,” Noble said. “These are our favorite kinds of collabs — both organizations get to see the benefits.”
The Pemberton is contributing in several ways. Through Aug. 16, the venue will donate $1 from every Pink Flamingo cocktail sold — a Paloma riff with tequila, cucumber bitters, grapefruit soda and citrus. Guests who show their Phoenix Zoo ticket within a week of visiting will also receive 15% off food and drink.
The partnerships like this help sustain conservation work even when fewer visitors brave the heat.
“We chose the flamingo because, like us, it stands apart from the crowd and isn’t afraid to be itself,” said creator Jonathon Vento. “Our mission has always been to provide the Phoenix community with a safe place to land and find their flock.”
