Plaza CEO Jonathan Jossel poses at the Carousel Bar in the Plaza in downtown Las Vegas Tuesday, June 7, 2023.
Monday, June 12, 2023 | 2 a.m.
The Plaza in downtown Las Vegas debuted its new look this weekend, bringing a freshness to the Fremont Street Experience and preserving part of the property’s recognizable 50-year history.
Plaza CEO Jonathan Jossel said the year-long and multimillion-dollar “Main Street Reimagination” project was labeled a “reimagination” and not a “renovation” because it didn’t just update existing amenities — it built completely new ones at the property that initially debuted in 1971.
“When you look at the front of the Plaza, It’ll never be the same again,” Jossel told the Las Vegas Sun, noting that the Plaza’s iconic, oft-photographed exterior lights will, however, remain. “It’s a whole new game. And it’s a beautiful, beautiful change.”
The project was divided into four components, the centerpiece of which is a circular, carousel-themed bar on Main Street, complete with plastic horses that move up and down, an array of drinks and the only outdoor video poker in Nevada.
On one corner of the Main Street entrance, a new location of Pinkbox Donuts has been constructed as part of the project. The Las Vegas-based chain’s entrance is framed by a massive, pink and sprinkled donut, and will also be accessible from inside the Plaza casino.
Pinkbox is excited to open its 10th location, and its first in downtown Las Vegas, said Chief Business Officer Michael Crandall. Not only will the company now be able to reach the number of Las Vegans who live near the Plaza, he said, but also the thousands of people who will visit the area.
He compared the location to Times Square in New York City.
“Millions of people that come to Vegas from all over the world now get to experience Pinkbox Donuts, if they haven’t already,” Crandall said. “So we get to hit all the different tourists from all over the world.”
The third aspect of the Main Street Reimagination lies on the Plaza’s opposite corner, where downtown Las Vegas’ only smoke-free gaming space has been erected. The large room, christened “Brian Christopher Slots at the Plaza,” will also be social-media friendly — with colorful lights, retro seating and more to provide visitors with the perfect photo opportunity.
The area was named for influencer Brian Christopher, who has streamed himself playing slot machines for about seven years and regularly partners with the Plaza. His namesake space will allow for more easy streaming, and even includes some of his branded slot machines.
Christopher, originally from Canada, said he couldn’t believe when he moved to the U.S. that smoking was still allowed in casinos, and saw an opportunity to use his platform to request completely smoke-free areas like that now available at the Plaza.
“I always think of the States being ahead of everybody else, but in that one aspect they’re behind in my opinion,” he said, noting the negative health effects that indoor smoking can have on casino patrons and staff. “So I just figured this is a good cause that I could take on.”
The fourth and final project within the Main Street Reimagination is an outdoor, rooftop patio for patrons of Oscar’s Steakhouse within the Plaza. The patio is directly above Brian Christopher Slots at the Plaza, with an impressive view of Main Street and downtown Las Vegas overall.
“There’s nowhere in downtown you can sit on the patio and have fine dining like Oscar’s Steakhouse — and outdoors, experiencing the sights and sounds of downtown,” Jossel said. “And that’s what makes downtown great is you can do all these different things … you’re a part of this energy.”
The landscape of downtown Las Vegas has evolved in recent history, Jossel said, and there’s a whole new audience of people visiting the area. Hotels like the Plaza need to create new experiences and offer new entertainment, accordingly, he said.
The Plaza’s entrance on Main Street has certainly come a long way from its past as a pick-up and drop-off location for cars, Jossel said.
“People have really made downtown into a totally different environment than it was 15 years ago,” Jossel said. “Which has allowed people like myself … to want to continue to reinvest in the Plaza, to be able to do that and be a part of that change.”
[email protected] / 702-990-8926 / @_katieann13_
