Six questions for Bree Blumstein

By Sam Skolnik

Monday, Sept. 22, 2008 | 2 a.m.

Bree Blumstein has been the general manager of the Beauty Bar in downtown Las Vegas for about two years. She’s worked at the bar modeled after a 1950s beauty salon since it opened in May 2005. It was the first bar and music spot to plant its flag in the burgeoning Fremont East District, where Las Vegas officials hope a club scene similar to Memphis’ Beale Street will take root.

Why did the owner choose to locate Beauty Bar downtown?

The owner, Paul Devitt of New York, is really brilliant at coming to a city and finding the up-and-coming areas. He researches every city he goes into and finds out what areas are going to be popping up within a couple of years.

How has business been?

It’s been really good. We had a little low point when the city was ripping up the street and putting in those neon signs. And then when the two other bars — the Griffin and the Downtown Cocktail Room — came in they were the hip new things for a while. But we’re generally doing well, despite the economic downturn that’s hurt all of us.

Are you glad Beauty Bar chose this location?

Yeah, this is definitely a hot spot. I think everybody feels like downtown is the new, hip thing. I think most people who work here and come here don’t want to go to the Strip.

Is the redevelopment of downtown and the Fremont East District happening at a fast enough pace?

I don’t think it’s happening as fast as anybody would like it to. These buildings are old, and it takes a lot of money and work to revamp them. But there are signs of progress. Our next door neighbors are going to become a piano bar, and there’s going to be another new bar and concert hall on the corner.

How about the city’s efforts to assist the area’s redevelopment?

From my point of view, the city has been very helpful — period. City officials such as Scott Adams and Dave Bratcher, of the city’s Business Development office, have really pushed for everything we’ve needed. They want to see the businesses here flourish.

What are the biggest challenges facing businesses that open downtown?

A lot of what’s happening downtown is really grass roots and we don’t have the advertising money to compete with the big casinos. Other challenges, including loitering and petty crime, aren’t bad, in part because the Fremont Street security police regularly patrol the Fremont East District.