Casino Player August 2022

Downtown Deluxe PLAZA CEO DISHES ON CASINO’S BIG PLANS FOR DOWNTOWN LAS VEGAS

BY SEAN CHAFFIN

S ome big things are happening downtown LasVegas and the Plaza is one of those properties leading the charge. The company recently unveiled plans for four major additions to transform the casino’s historic Main Street façade.The entrance area faces the Fremont Street Experience and will receive a major overhaul including the iconic dome, now becoming part of a one-of-a-kind destination for cocktails, gaming and dining. What can visitors expect? The porte-cochère (the circular drive area in front formerly for taxis and cars) under the iconic dome will convert to the new Carousel Bar, featuring an outdoor bar experience with handmade cocktails, beer and wine. Life-sized Vegas-themed elements are a major part of the project including carousel horses moving up and down, spinning martini glasses, an oversized deck of cards, a Vegas showgirl, and a rotating ribbon of lights above the bar. Those who appreciate Vegas history will be pleased to know that the design preserves the dome’s iconic vintage Vegas lights that have been featured in many movies and television shows through the years. The 2,500-square-foot venue includes an outdoor cooling system and seating for nearly 100 guests overlooking Main Street.

“We believe downtown is always going to be the neighborhood to be in in Las Vegas,” Plaza CEO Jonathan Jossel tells Casino Player. “And within downtown,we always believe that Main Street is going to be the best street in downtown.We realized that we have a lot of real estate facing Main Street that isn’t best utilized. Primarily this porte-cochère with the lights, which is iconic. Everybody knows it. It’s iconic in downtown Las Vegas. But it’s just a porte-cochère, you just have taxis sitting there. “So our thought process started with that,which was how do we make this more appealing and revenue generating versus just sitting empty?” The expansion plans then began with the hopes of making a significant addition to the downtown area.The company envisions a vibrant area for cocktails,a nice meal,hanging out with friends,and some gambling in the area facing Main and Fremont. Beyond the bar, even more is in the works at the historic property. With additional space surrounding the porte-cochère, which was recently closed to begin construction, management started thinking of other possibilities to enhance the area even more.Adding something

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