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Las Vegas Sun
Rohit Joshi, checking out the scene outside Neonopolis.
Published Tuesday, May 5, 2009 | 5:59 p.m.
Updated Wednesday, May 6, 2009 | 1:48 p.m.
The once-optimistic plans to open phases of Star Trek Experience at Neonopolis in concert with the new “Star Trek” movie on a single date -- May 8 -- have been beamed to some far-off galaxy. The Experience won’t open until 2010 at the earliest, Rohit Joshi, head of the development company that owns Neonopolis, confirmed today. He added that the exhibit will not open in phases, but as a single entity. A few hours later, the wily entrepreneur also confirmed that Galaxy Neonopolis 11 movie theaters are closing as of Friday, and that he would reopen the cineplex, often as vacant as the sparsely inhabited planets favored by Captain Kirk, once it has been remodeled.
Joshi has not yet said why the theaters need to be renovated starting on the very day the “Star Trek” film is set to open, or who would manage the remodeled theater complex when (or maybe, if) it reopens. One published report indicated that Galaxy was pulling out of Neonopolis because bills for the complex’s centralized air conditioning system went unpaid, and Galaxy was unwilling to continue reimbursing customers’ parking fees by validating tickets from the Neonopolis garage. But Joshi’s account is that the theaters are to be remodeled as part of Neonopolis’ grand renovation project, which could be finished in a matter of months or maybe eons, when “Star Trek XXX: Grandson of Spock” hits theaters.
Regardless, what was to be a triumphant week at Neonopolis with the arrival of the Star Trek brand (in the form of a restaurant/tavern and gift shop) in tandem with the heavily attended premiere of the new Trek film is instead another dull weekend at the retail and entertainment complex. For the foreseeable future, Neonopolis will be absent a movie theater and without any semblance of its Star Trek attraction. Customarily, Joshi promises “great stuff” from the Star Trek Experience but can’t specify what the stuff will be or how it will be shaped. It will be huge, he says. There will be a new concept, he claims.
A spokesman for CBS, which owns the Star Trek title licensing rights, today said in an e-mail that no solid opening date has been set because the exhibit is still in development. Sort of like Neonopolis itself, where progress is not quite measured at warp speed.
Who's idea was this?
Whose idea? You mean the entire Neonopolis? That's a good question!!!!
why is this a story??
It has been several years since we checked out the movie theatres at Neonopolis, and at that time we decided not to go in. So why would I now want to take my out-of-town guests or family members to Neonopolis to see the Star Trek Experience? What a disgusting, dirty place this is! You have to fight your way past the drunks and hookers to get near it! There is the smell or urine and stale beer wafting through the air, and there is trash (both human and man-made) EVERYWHERE!
NVCitizen-here we go again...Why don't you actually go down there before you make such off base statements. I'm no fan of Neonflopolis but to say you have to fight your way thru drunks and hookers is ridiculous. Sure, no drunks on the strip at least right tough guy?
I took my parents down to Fremont Street a few weeks ago. I hadn't been there since 1999, if I recall correctly. I have to say that the improvements were fantastic to see. All of the good things I remembered, plus many, many new things. I didn't see any more homeless or drunks or whatever than I do up and down most of the Strip. The live music was fun. Saw some cops on Segways. The upgraded screen is gorgeous.
I'd go back even if the Star Trek Experience doesn't open in Neonopolis, but I can promise you I'd be there every trip if it does!
kedinger
A Reno citizen
Sad to see this place close, but you could see the writing on the wall. No a/c in the last 4 weeks, and this leading up to the biggest month of movies. It makes no sense at all. Ran into a former employee, at a casino theatre of all places, and got the real scoop:
1. Place has not had a/c since at least January!
2. Owner refuses to or cant pay the existing bills.
3. Star trek Experience was NEVER going to open in time for the film, especially since not one iota of construction had begun.
4. Lies about closing theatre to renovate are a joke at best, as thetare has stadium seating, the best digital sound. Only upgrade would be digital projectors at $120 grand a pop.
5. If you cant pay for a/c, how in the hell do you buy even 1 digital projector?
6. Jillians is set to RE-open in a few days, without a/c. How can that happen, when no other biz in the complex, except TELEMUNDO has a/c?
7. Which begs the question, why does TeleMundo have a/c, while a theatre chain, that is obviously the only thing bringing customers to the complex does not?
8.It's sad that downotown does not have a theatre. It leaves lots of locals and tourists without a place to see film. I know a ton of folks showed up to see Star trek, and were suprised the place was shuttered.
Tim