UPDATE 19 October 2015 : The Downtown Grand Still Has A Pulse
UPDATE 9 September 2015 : As you may have seen in our other post it seems the Grand is getting yet another shot at life. With a revamp of the players club, modifications to the floor, and some new and updated odds it would seem that the higher powers aren’t quite ready to pull the plug. Which is a good thing if you ask me.
Some more details on changes at Downtown Grand
Downtown Grand Introduces Downtown Grand Rewards
The Grand is a great hotel. And with some tweaks and a push it may finally gain the momentum it needs to break across Third street and tap into the Fremont market. Here’s hoping this is the breath of life that finally keeps her afloat for good.
Unfortunately we’ve heard that the Downtown Grand, an attempt by former Wynn executives to bring luxury to the downtown market in Las Vegas, will likely shutter its doors very soon. Our sources have said the closure may come within the week.
While a blow to all the work that was done to the former Lady Luck, it’s not a surprise as the writing has been on the wall for the property since its inception. As of tonight the high limit rooms are both shuttered and we’ve been told 80 employees have been laid off. As you can see above, black drapes now enclose all high limit areas, and table games don’t open until Noon on the weekend As I said, foreboding
I hope it’s not true, as I hold a special place for the property myself with its accessible luxury offerings. But time will tell. Personally I feel it will be a great loss. Downtown Grand filled a niche that was missing in DLV. Here’s hoping there may be a savior or a smooth transition as the people on property seem upbeat.
What are your feelings about Downtown Grand?
Eric loves blackjack, architecture, hotels, more hotels, more blackjack, art and design. He grew up drawing hotels, and now spends his free time traveling to see and experience some of the greatest hospitality experiences in the gaming world while using his education in architecture as a tool to analyze how the best hotels in the world are created and developed.
The recipe for failure is:
No parking (except vallet) + Tight slots. I drove by thinking, “if there was a hassle-free place to park, I’d go there”
So very right. Although they attempted to fix those issues by offering parking with club membership there were just too many issues that haven’t been addressed properly or fast enough to stem the tide.
The parking thing was what stuck out to me. I mean c’mon I know that downtown has become hipsterville but your in the old Lady Luck is it really smart to make people pay to park?
That was just one of many things DTG has done wrong in my opinion. Closing restaurants, moving Mob Bar to a terrible location, minimizing hours, and cutting corners in all the wrong places led it to where it is. If it doesn’t close, there will need to be some serious changes from a seasoned operator.
That was just one of many things DTG has done wrong in my opinion. Closing restaurants, moving Mob Bar to a terrible location, minimizing hours, and cutting corners in all the wrong places led it to where it is. If it doesn’t close, there will need to be some serious changes from a seasoned operator.
What niche were they filling? I feel Golden Nugget has occupied that space for decades with a better location and more inviting property. The niche that NEEDS to be filled is the uber cheap, gambling joint with no frills that used to be 75% of the casinos down there pre Zappos. Hell even Mermaids is charging strip prices for cocktails these days
The Nugget does fill that niche as well. But in my experience although there are great parts of the Nugget, the overall attitude and service there is a bit stodgy and old school. DTG was trying to be new, a mix of Strip high hospitality and downtown level pricing. And the staff, despite all that’s happened, has always been exemplary. In all reality DTG really is no frills, just wrapped in a pretty coat of paint.
The Nugget does fill that niche as well. But in my experience although there are great parts of the Nugget, the overall attitude and service there is a bit stodgy and old school. DTG was trying to be new, a mix of Strip high hospitality and downtown level pricing. And the staff, despite all that’s happened, has always been exemplary. In all reality DTG really is no frills, just wrapped in a pretty coat of paint.
This is another lesson for the people never liked downtown.
You can’t force people into the hipster version of dtlv. People who stay downtown aren’t looking for the strip AND we want free parking as well.
Just curious, do you believe there is a consistent “vision” with the development of downtown? I have been both perplexed and amazed at the development and changes over the past 5+ years.
I think they think they have a vision. Unfortunately so many people were imported to give us a vision and those same folks didn’t and never will understand that Vegas is different. That’s why everything is so willy nilly. And the parking…. Oy vey!
It’s all about the parking. But, then again, I hail from the land of Atlantic City….. and Atlantic City was built on the concept of copious self parking.
We love the Grand and have stayed there several times since it’s opening. It’s fresh, luxurious and simply clean compared to other casinos in its surroundings. The Grand is what drove us away from the Strip a few times, and it was a nice change. The only gripe we have had with the place is a lack of a good restaurant on the property. The one they have currently just doesn’t meet expectations, and you can only eat so much pizza at Pizza Rock across the street. I for one will be sad if it actually closes.
Thanks for your comment. I am a “bit” dining obsessed; so that would potentially be an issue for me. What are your favorite downtown Vegas restaurants?