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■ by Steve Kieva

Bar None Ryan Doherty Raises the “Bar” of Downtown Las Vegas Nightlife

I f you’ve visited the downtown area of Las Vegas, you might have noticed quite a few changes over the last few years.What was once a dilapidated and run-down area that few tourists and even locals dared to venture into has now become a mecca for drinking, dancing and dining with modern décor and attractive ambiances. Most of this change is most noticeable in the Fremont East District.It’s here that you’ll find a memorable night of drinking and entertainment at several locations.That thanks is mostly due to Ryan Doherty and his company, Corner Bar Management. Doherty,founder of Corner Bar Management,brings compelling art, edgy entertainment, progressive design, imaginative cocktails and inno vative cuisine to each of his LasVegas destinations.Doherty started with a neighborhood bar in downtown LasVegas and has since turned it into a neighborhood with a collection of bars, nightclubs and restaurants. Doherty’s concepts prioritize communal experiences that are less

In the spring of 2013, Doherty unveiled Park on Fremont, a lush, whimsical patio garden and bar amid the concrete and neon of Down town LasVegas.At 5,000 square feet, Park on Fremont is an intimate bar filled with objects d’art and framed on two sides by two garden patios, florals and greenery, and an upgraded sound system and a DJ booth has been added to the back patio. In the summer of 2020, Doherty introduced four new concepts including two new nightlife destinations on the same block as Park on Fremont and Commonwealth: Lucky Day, an intimate 3,000-square-foot tequila and mezcal bar;and DISCOPUSSY,a 6,500-square-foot after-hours dance haven that caters to audiophiles craving mainline house and techno. In late summer, Doherty opened two concepts at AREA15, the world’s first purpose-built art and experiential entertainment complex. In September, Corner Bar unveiled Oddwood, a 2,500-square-foot

about taking snapshots and more about social engagement.He has focused on lower-populated areas of Las Vegas to breathe life into dilapidated buildings and upgrade neighborhoods along the way. His proj ects have personalized previously untouched areas of the city with bars and restaurants that feel on-trend and simultaneously timeless. His footprint in Down town Las Vegas includes multiple properties that are connected by the appeal of art, not displayed on the walls, floors and ceilings, but the art that has become each individual business. “The best thing about having all these venues on the same street is that it makes downtown feel more personal to me, more intimate,” he says.“Years ago, I stopped inviting people to a specific venue, and now I invite them to a neighborhood … Our goal is to create places for our community to gather, to support the arts and to spark conversation.We’re going to con tinue to create new venues that do just that.” Corner Bar’s portfolio now includes several Las Vegas destinations including Commonwealth, The

enchanting cocktail bar set under the awning of a 25 foot-tall digital maple tree.He recently sold Oddwood to AREA15. In October, Doherty opened Museum Fiasco, a 5,000-square-foot progressive museum designed to cultivate an immersive sound and light experience. The museum’s first exhibit, “Cluster,” created by Playmodes Studio, pushes boundaries in light, technology and creativity in a large-scale audio visual experience, presenting a dynamic, interactive show that engages the senses.The virtuosic play tells a story through a collection of lights that strobe in harmony with the extraordinary soundscape.The 360 degree experience explores the chaotic feeling of being inside the kernel of a glitchy computer proces sor and is the first brick and mortar gallery in the United States for Playmodes Studio. In the summer of 2021, Doherty debuted Peyote as part of the eclectic Fergusons Down town Motel.His first concept serving elevated cuisine and Las Vegas’ first live fire restaurant, Peyote was developed in partnership with Jolene Mannina of

“Years ago, I stopped inviting people to a specific venue, and now I invite them to a neighborhood … Our goal is to create places for our community to gather, to support the arts and to spark conversation. We’re going to continue to create new venues that do just that.”

Laundry Room, Park on Fremont, Lucky Day, DISCOPUSSY, Museum Fiasco, Peyote, Cheapshot and We All Scream. Doherty elevated the nightlife standard in Downtown Las Vegas with the opening of his first bar,Commonwealth, in 2012,and has since shaped much of what is now Downtown Las Vegas’ vibrant Fremont East Entertainment District.A 6,000-square-foot neighborhood bar with rooftop views inspired by Doherty’s Boston roots,Commonwealth is home toThe Laundry Room, an internationally acclaimed cocktail haven.Doherty crafted every detail of the bar,from curating the art to shaping a lineup of DJs and live music.

Vegas Test Kitchen. In spring of 2022, Corner Bar unveiled two more concepts, bring ing the total to six destinations on the same block of Fremont East:We All Scream, a collision of candy-colored clubland that blends music, art and ice cream;and Cheapshot,an intimate 99-seat theater with eccentric entertainment curated byAmy“Miss Behave”Saunders. An avid believer that art amplifies culture, enhances the quality of life, and builds a sense of community, Doherty’s unmatched eye for design and art can be seen in each of his endeavors. He has been

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