The Fremont Street Experience isn’t changing anytime soon but the Fremont Street experience will certainly be changing. Three somewhat historic properties will be changing hands and closing in the near future. Derek and Greg Stevens, owners of The D, Golden Gate, (the property formerly known as) Las Vegas Club and the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center, have announced the purchase of 3 properties that will enable them to reshape Fremont Street.
The land purchased by the Stevens brothers is currently home to three Granite Gaming Group properties; Mermaids and La Bayou casinos and the Girls of Glitter Gulch gentlemen’s club. The next couple of months may be the last time you’ll find those deep fried twinkies, supersized slushy drinks and slot machines that actually use coins as the properties will close by the end of June.
“We are very excited to work with Granite Gaming Group on this transaction,” said Derek Stevens. “I’ve always believed the whole is larger than the sum of its parts and this real estate acquisition provides a great opportunity for the future of Downtown Las Vegas.”
“While it will be sad to say goodbye to our family-run Fremont Street mainstays, it is an exciting time for Downtown Las Vegas as Derek Stevens continues to propel its evolution,” remarked Steve Burnstine, CEO of Granite Gaming Group. “All three locations will remain open until June 27, giving loyal customers a chance to stop in and say goodbye and first-timers an opportunity to experience vintage Las Vegas.”
This sale not only marks the end of an era of a few Old Vegas staples but it’s also the beginning of a new chapter for the area under the canopy. The land purchase gives the Stevens brothers control of a significant portion of the Fremont Street. Take a look at this old map of Fremont Street below to see the proximity of Mermaids and La Bayou to Las Vegas Club and Golden Gate which are already owned by the Stevens brothers.
The Girls of Glitter Gulch isn’t shown on the old casino map but is located on the same side of the street as the Las Vegas Club. The Stevens brothers haven’t revealed plans for the casino-hotel formerly known as Las Vegas Club but it wouldn’t be too surprising to see the new property extend all the way from Main Street to First Street. This could make it one of the largest casinos on Fremont Street. On a personal note, I’d like so see some of this new space used for a coffee shop with great coffee and fast wifi.
Likewise, we might also expect Golden Gate extend its casino beyond the space it currently occupies across the street from Las Vegas Club. Once the transformation of the Las Vegas Club is complete the Stevens brothers will own 3 of the 7 casino-hotels under the Fremont Street Experience and 3 of 12 casino-hotels in downtown Las Vegas.
The future of Fremont Street will certainly change once the three old businesses close their doors for good. This truly is a new beginning for the casino sector of downtown Las Vegas. The Stevens brothers will have a major hand in whatever the future of Fremont Street has in store. No pressure.
Photos: (Mermaids daryl_mitchell/flickr, La Bayou time anchor/flickr, Glitter Gulch Michael Bentley/flickr)
