LV shopping centers seek tenants at ICSC convention

Wednesday, May 20, 1998 | 10:25 a.m.

More than a half dozen shopping centers will open or expand in Las Vegas in 2000 and the developers of each of them feel their unique qualities will give them an edge over their competitors.

Many of the builders of the unprecedented boom in retail properties also expect their projects to be must-see attractions that will help spur tourism, which they feel is suffering a cyclical lull right now.

Developers unveiled maps, drawings, models and promises to thousands of retail representatives at the trade show of the International Council of Shopping Centers on Tuesday afternoon at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Some of the expansion and new-center highlights:

"Nine million people will already be visiting the Fremont Street Experience," Gorlow said. "That attraction is our top anchor. Our second anchor will be the Mann theaters going into the center."

Neonopolis also will feature a wide variety of dining experiences, from fine dining to fast food and impulse buying. About 2,000 parking spaces will be within walking distance of the the mall.

Kraft said Desert Passage will be part of the solution to the tourism doldrums Las Vegas is experiencing. Passenger counts at McCarran International Airport have been flat so far this year.

She said the Aladdin's new retail center represents something new for Las Vegas and the unique characteristics of the property would carry it with visitors.

"Each project brings something that is unique and different," said Alan Schmiedicker, a vice president with Forest City. "Las Vegas reinvents itself every few years. We give visitors something new to see."

The unique characteristics of the Grand Canal Shops at the Venetian will be its replication of the city of Venice on Italy's east coast. The mall will include gondola transportation in waist-deep canals with 150 retail outlets surrounding replicas of the Rialto Bridge, St. Mark's Square and the Campanile Towers.

Venetian officials are very optimistic about drawing tourists to what eventually will be a 6,000-room resort, since the Sands Expo Center is 75 percent booked with conventions through 2011.