Columnist Kate Maddox: Vegas’ Motown Cafe is no mo’

Kate Maddox

Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2000 | 9:38 a.m.

Kate Maddox's column appears Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Reach her at kmaddox@lasvegassun.com.

The end finally came for the Motown Cafe at New York-New York on Sunday night. The sudden closure was a surprise to most of the restaurant's employees, although rumors about the demise had been circulating since August.

The Motown Cafe opened with celebrity fanfare in January 1997, amid the popularity of themed restaurants in Las Vegas. But business has since fallen off, and Motown Cafe owner Rogich Communications Group reportedly sold the space to ESPN.

The network plans to turn things around with one of its ESPN Zone restaurants -- essentially replacing the '50s music cafe with an all-sports "entertainment and dining experience" -- thus giving the theme thing one more try. There are ESPN Zone eateries in Atlanta, Baltimore, New York, Washington, Chicago and Anaheim, Calif.

An official announcement on the future of the Motown Cafe site is expected in the next week. A hotel source would not elaborate on details and would only say that the property is "evaluating things" and "looking at some options," but the restaurant is "definitely closed ... for good."

It looks like the Bellagio has finally started on its nightclub. The upscale hotel has been contemplating the club idea since before MGM MIRAGE took over ownership of the property.

Insiders speculate the super-swank night spot will be built inside or adjacent to Sam's American restaurant, toward the back of the casino. And who will run the new joint? One of the front-runners is Victor Drai. Drai's after-hours supper club is one of the city's most popular places to party into the wee hours.

A Bellagio spokeswoman had no comment.

Spago had some hot celebrity action this weekend. On Saturday, recent Emmy winner Sean Hayes, who plays Jack -- "Just Jack!" -- on NBC's "Will & Grace," dined with pals in the private balcony section.

The following day, Nicolas Cage, Patricia Arquette, director Tim Burton, Lisa Marie Presley and her fiance (and would-be hubby No. 3), John Oszajca, boozed it up in the cafe in full view of Forum Shops gawkers.

Rounds of martinis and a couple of hours later, Burton ponied up for the $600 tab and the significantly merrier group departed, bodyguards in tow.

Cage and Arquette caused a bit of a stir earlier when they announced in February (the same time Presley and alterna-rocker Oszajca were betrothed) that they were divorcing. In April, Cage apparently changed his mind, withdrew his petition and got back together with his bombshell blond.

Witnesses of Lauren Hutton's motorcycle crash on Saturday say there are two heroes who deserve credit for swift and professional action. Two unidentified Venetian emergency medical technicians were on hand just seconds after Hutton lost control of her bike. One witness said the medical technicians jumped into action and kept the actress still and protected until the medical transport helicopter landed on the scene and airlifted Hutton to University Medical Center.

As of Monday afternoon, Hutton was still in intensive care. A spokesman said that in addition to a severe fracture in her leg and another in her arm, the actress is suffering from "road rash." Hutton also has a large cut on her head. She is expected to be at UMC for at least a few more days.

Hutton was one of the celebrities taking part in a 100-mile ride with the Guggenheim Motorcycle Club.