The oldest freestanding bar in Vegas isAtomic Liquors , build in 1952 , back when you could wax onto the roof andwatch atomic bombs explodeat desert test sites 60 miles away . If you model long enough at its expansive cake , chances are Kent Johns will draw up a stool next to you and tell you about it .
Two age ago , Johns buy Atomic Liquors with his pal Lance , and it ’s become one of many symbols of a revitalize downtown Vegas . Although I ca n’t see his eyes — he ’s fatigue dark glasses , inside , after dark — I know Johns is broadcast as he proudly tells me about a late sojourn from Anthony Bourdain for his CNN showParts Unknown . They ’ve even named a drunkenness after him .
To analyse the impact of theDowntown Project ’s $ 350 million funding injectionin transform the area , I set out to meet the owners of existing , independent business , which I ’m calling the “ Downtown Organic ” movement — estimate and place which have grown and prosper independently of theDowntown Project ’s investments . Not surprisingly , many of them are thrilled about the new aid for the neighborhood .
https://gizmodo.com/the-future-of-downtown-vegas-is-somewhere-in-tony-hseih-1496099284
Anthony Bourdain reporting live from Atomic Liquors was a huge hike to business district Vegas , mental image viaDroolius
“ I ’ve done real estate for 20 year , ” says Johns , who bring renter to an office tug in business district before investing in Atomic Liquors ( he endure downtown , too , in the high - rise call The Ogden , like I do this week ) . “ We needed a wildcatter to shake things up . ”
The “ wildcatter ” is Tony Hsieh , of class , the Zappos CEO whose vision is ram much of the growth in the circumvent blocks . And he might be doing it intimately than a traditional real estate of the realm person , Johns cogitate . “ A developer would never have been capable to do what Tony has done , ” Johns continues . “ He can take risk because he does n’t have to worry about investor . ”
Atomic Liquors is right on the boundary of the Downtown Project ’s grasp , a few city block further east from theContainer Park development . A motel called The Ferguson is being acquire by the Downtown Project into assorted - use across the street , and there ’s a programme for a motel where the “ rooms ” are Airtream house trailer on a nearby batch . Johns show up me how he ’s fix his own improvements in expectation , adding a large out-of-door bar and firepit to complement what might be some of Vegas ’ sound Ne signage . “ If you build it , they will occur , right ? ” We laugh , and I ca n’t quite severalize if he ’s being sarcastic or not — he ’s always smile , and he ’s still got the sunglasses on — but I recollect he means it .
https://gizmodo.com/visiting-the-downtown-projects-new-vegas-parks-pretty-1497157644
Johns ’ enthusiasm is echoed a few occlusion back toward the warmheartedness of downtown at theEl Cortez , the oldest continuously control casino in Las Vegas since it open up in 1941 . It was purchased in 1963 by Jackie Gaughan — who still lives in the hotel and gambles downstairs at the long time of 94 — and , in 1975 , he sold it to a grouping of partners including Kenny Epstein , who served as Gaughan ’s protege for many yr . Epstein ’s daughters , Alex and Katie Epstein are the twenty - something forces lend new lifetime to the attribute in a agency that complement the Downtown Project vision .
“ Tony became an amazing accelerator for taking it from where it was to where it ’s snuff it now in a much quicker clock time , ” say Alex Epstein . “ Obviously we ’re very thankful to him for creating a hoo-ha of excitation here , engage workers , and cleaning up the area . ” Over the last few years , this also mean that the El Cortez has started to see real changes in their own business organisation . “ Our demographic is changing and our client groundwork is definitely much younger now , ” say Alex . “ We ’re doing things that are welcoming younger people . ”
The fashionable Modern cabana suites fill a freestanding construction behind the casino . exposure via El Cortez
Although business district needs some more amenities — a grocery shop is purportedly coming soon ; the sisters would like a nail beauty parlor — the biggest , most positive change can already be seen right outside the El Cortez ’s doors on Fremont . The sisters are stunned by the increased pedestrian action , especially when festivals or case are organized . “ It is so coolheaded and interesting to see business district booming and occupy to the brim with all variety of multitude , ” says Katie . “ This country of town has transmute more or less into the urban core that we want it to be . ”
If there ’s anyone who ’s an expert on the Vegas transformation from a existent landed estate view , it ’s my friend Andy Wang . As a author he ’s covered Vegas growing and traveling for ten year for theNew York Postand other publications .
Andy give me some good , openhanded - picture linear perspective . “ You ’ve seen this whole urban center metamorphose back and off a few time now , ” he told me over breakfast . “ It has n’t been a fast operation , it ’s been a slow process . ” But he did agree with one thing that almost everyone I blab to echoed : Downtown has had serious impulse for at least five long time . “ Downtown Cocktail Room , The Griffin , and Beauty Bar were all open in 2007 , ” says Wang , list off three democratic bars on Fremont Street . “ Tony ’s not the first innovator , but he ’s just the big . People have been assay to do this for awhile . ”
TheDowntown Cocktail Room , which reportedly urge on Hsieh ’s vision , has been an mainstay here since 2007 , photo viaDowntown - Vegas
Wang and I meet for breakfast atEat , the cafe which has become part of Downtown Project lore . Chef Natalie Young was unhappy working at a eating place on the Strip and was plan to leave town when she got a $ 250,000 loanword from the Downtown Project to open up her own position . The cafe is bantam and unassuming , on the bottom floor of a motel where way lease by the calendar month , but it ’s well - designed ( and has the prerequisite slats of reclaimed wood ) . We order truffled egg sandwiches and corned beef hasheesh , and it ’s candidly one of the best breakfast I ’ve had anywhere on the planet .
This is one of the Downtown Project ’s biggest success stories — but it ’s also singular , in the sense that it drew someone off the Strip and into downtown . “ I know Tony ’s been go bad around offer really heavy people who puzzle out on the Strip really really bang-up deal to open matter up here , ” say Wang . “ A lot of them see it as something that has potential drop and they appreciate that Tony ’s here , but it ’s so different . ” They ’ve luredplenty of startup , but one important index for the initiative will be if Hsieh can convert other local businesses owners , maybe even another expectant corporation like Zappos , to relocate to downtown .
The transcendent Eat is always packed with locals and tourists alike
before long , Wang will have to make that decision himself . In addition to covering Vegas ’ change , Wang is also a possible investor in the city ’s revitalization — he owns a customs duty publish company and is presently look for office space . But he ’s not looking at downtown , rather , he ’s looking at a new ( main ) construction calledDowntown Spaces , just south of the Arts District . “ It ’s really cheap , and I think a portion of people — include those who come to Vegas because of the Downtown Project and then wanted to do their own matter — realize the economic value of being close to downtown but also removed from it . ”
The fact that a young enterpriser that ’s absolutely located within the Downtown Project ’s demographic was choosing not to turn up business district was important . That was my cue to manoeuvre to the Arts District .
We ’re report live from Las Vegas on theDowntown Project , the $ 350 million urban revitalization task launch by Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh . understand all our coveragehere .
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