Many LV retailers will be open on Christmas

Bob Shemeligian

Tuesday, Dec. 23, 1997 | 12:13 p.m.

It's Christmas Morning. Your Uncle Hartoon -- whom you had forgotten was planning a visit -- calls you from Baker and tells you he and his entire family will be at your house in 90 minutes.

What do you do about gifts?

In most cities you'd be out of luck. But this is Las Vegas, where shopping is a 24-hour experience.

Most casino retail shops will be open Christmas Day. A generation ago, that meant an opportunity to buy only overpriced casino logo clothing, but today there are numerous retail venues at many resorts offering a wide selection of high end merchandise.

Most well known are the Forum Shops, which will be open 10 a.m. to 1l p.m. Christmas Even, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

The Forum Shops include more than 100 high-end stores including Virgin Megastore, NikeTown, Emporio Armani and FAO Schwartz.

Spokeswoman Allie Lakey expects big Christmas Day crowds at the Forum Shops

"The restaurants certainly are busy, and they generate good traffic in the mall," said Lakey, who probably will be among the crowds. "I am a late Christmas shopper. I guess some people think it's a foolish thing to do, but I will always love shopping on Christmas Eve."

Another casino shopping mall open on Christmas Day is Masquerade Village at the Rio Hotel.

Patterned after a northern Italian village, Masquerade Village shoppers stroll along floors made of imported Italian marble and sandstone in a festive atmosphere.

Among the wares on display in the various retail shops are fine jewelry, distinctive and unusual eyewear, high-end watches and accessories and even jackets that fold up into bags.

High end shops include: Speedo Authentic Fitness; Reel Outfitter, a full-line Orvis dealer that specializes in fly-fishing gear, and Nicole Miller, which features a complete collection of the designer's upscale apparel from silks to sportswear for men and women.

For Christmas Day shopping in a fashionable European style setting, the Street of Shops at the Mirage offers a wide array of items ranging from jewelry to high-fashion casual wear and designer evening wear.

At next-door Treasure Island, The Treasure Chest sells watches and fashion jewelry and the Mystere Store sells merchandise reflecting the popular stage show.

Not to be outdone, Bally's Avenue Shoppes offers guests more than 20 stores including Marshall Rousso.

"Our stores carry a little bit of everything," said Bally's spokeswoman Gina Cunningham. "We even have Beanie Babies."

From Bally's the Star Lane Shops at the MGM Grand are just a brief monorail ride away. Among them is Biker Road, specializing in Harley Davidson merchandise and MGM Grand Athletic Club, which offers sports memorabilia.

In addition, several retail shops surround many of the themed areas of MGM Grand Aventures. Among them are Screamin' Attitudes, offering a wide variety of youth-oriented accessories, including the "No Fear" line of clothing and Bayou Toys, which carries collectable dolls and other specialty toys.

Two other casinos where toy shops will be open Christmas Day are the Las Vegas Hilton and Flamingo Hilton. Kidz Club House toy stores are at both casinos. And for close encounters of the retail kind, the Sci-Fi Zone at the Las Vegas Hilton sells everything from phasers to Trekkie collectables.

You can also check out Harrah's Carnaval Corner, a cluster of outdoor shops devoted to epicurean delight. Hand rolled cigars, fine wines, espresso and gourmet samples are offered.

For a truly unique last-minute Christmas gift, why not consider purchasing an antique slot machine at CJ's Casino Emporium at the Stratosphere Tower?

"It's the holiday gift that holds its value," said sales consultant Leon Gilliam. "People love antique slot machines. They're beautiful."

Besides the casinos, convenience stores offer Christmas and New Year's Day shopping opportunities.

Patricia Pape of 7-Eleven says all 150 of the chain's convenience stores in Southern Nevada will be open Christmas Day.

"We're very busy on Christmas," Pape said. "In fact, we do 68 percent above a normal day. We get the guys who forgot to buy the batteries for the little kids' toys as well as film for the cameras."

All 26 area Circle K stores also will be open.

"Business is very good at Circle K during the holidays," said spokeswoman Julie Igo. "We do have some gift items, so you can always stop by for a last minute Christmas party gift."

Strangely enough, both 7-Eleven and Circle K sell many food items on Christmas Day.

"Christmas is one of our biggest days for selling hot dogs," Pape said, "which is somewhat baffling, because you'd think Christmas is when most people settle in for holiday dinners. Perhaps the road travelers are the ones who buy them -- for something to hold them over until they get to grandma's house."

The hordes of shoppers who are out and about the day or two before Christmas enjoy the benefits of a more varied restaurant menu.

For these shoppers -- many of whom don't have the time or strength to cook or even to drive to a restaurant during the Christmas rush -- an attractive alternative is Waiters on Wheels, which zooms meals around the city.

Customers can order meals from any of the 100 Las Vegas restaurant menus in their delivery guide -- a free publication they'll send on request.

Add a $6 delivery charge and a tip for the formally attired driver and in about an hour you've got lunch or dinner.

"We're very busy during the Christmas season," said President Daryl Dorfman. "After people get done shopping, they're simply too tired to cook or even to go out to eat."