Sunday, Sept. 28, 2008 | 2 a.m.
For the past 10 years Mike Hopper has run Sin City Mad Men, a marketing and advertising company. He’s given many clients advice on interior design and getting attention.
He’s got a new client. Himself.
He plans to open Mocha Joes, a coffee shop on Water Street in Henderson. The shop will be in front of his Sin City Mad Men offices and at the heart of Henderson’s ongoing downtown redevelopment efforts.
Hopper first moved his advertising offices to the one-story building in May, drawn by the redevelopment plans and the old-time feel of downtown. When he learned the city was looking for retail shops in the area he decided to start the second small business.
The huge redevelopment efforts downtown have hit several snags during the economic slump with several major projects canceled or delayed.
And the only coffee shop in the area, Mojo Bean, closed in July, leaving an area the city wants to make a vibrant, artistic community decaffeinated.
Hopper will fill the void.
He says his shop, scheduled to open by the end of the year, will feel more like an Irish Pub.
“I’m the only game on Water Street,” he said. “I think it’s a good fit. They are trying to bring back some nostalgic quality. This fits in with their vision.”
•••
During the peak hours of the recent BalloonaPalooza in North Las Vegas, a line of cars stretched down Craig Road as thousands of people crammed into the event.
North Las Vegas’ third installment of the annual festival at Craig Ranch Regional Park must be considered a success. In a region that often lacks family-friendly entertainment, the weekend event proved locals have an appetite for funnel cakes and bumper cars.
Mike Henley, the city’s recreation director, estimated more than 30,000 people attended the three-day event. An exact count is difficult because admission was free.
There was no shortage of teenagers, moms with strollers or dads buying ride tickets, showing North Las Vegas captured the family demographic.
“It’s aimed at our families,” said Councilwoman Shari Buck. “You don’t have to spend a lot of money if you don’t want to. You can just bring the whole family.”
The event will likely get bigger. It’s held at Craig Ranch Regional Park, which is now still only a golf course. But groundbreaking on turning the course into an 135-acre park is scheduled for early next year.
Improvements to the park will end some of the traffic struggles. On Saturday attendees waited an hour to enter the dirt parking lot. Plans call for additional entrances and a paved lot.
•••
The attentive residents of Boulder City will have a new way of keeping tabs on city government.
The city has begun posting videos of City Council meetings online. Users can view entire meetings or action on specific agenda items.
The Web broadcasts are similar to those Henderson plans to begin in January. It will be the first time video of Henderson meetings will be available to the public.
Boulder City Council meetings have been broadcast on BCTV, a city-operated community access channel, for nearly a decade. The channel is available only in Boulder City.
City officials said the Internet video will make it easier for the public to get information about city issues. Video of Redevelopment Agency and audio of the Planning Commission will also be available on the Boulder City site.
The city can use the same cameras for the television and Internet. It is spending about $20,000 to begin the programming.
Las Vegas and Clark County meetings have long aired on cable television. North Las Vegas does not broadcast its meetings.
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