Columnist Kate Maddox: Famed CroBar could hit Vegas

Kate Maddox

Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2000 | 9:16 a.m.

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

It looks like a new nightclub is in line to take up residence at the Venetian's C2K. CroBar, a popular hot spot in Miami and Chicago, has apparently received the OK from hotel higher-ups and should soon be moving into the space at C2K.

CroBar management has been looking to open a Las Vegas club for several months, but hadn't had much luck until about three weeks ago when it met with promoters working with the Venetian. Talks ensued, and a week ago the CroBar team returned to iron out details. A contract was reportedly drawn up, and one source in on the deal says plans are now "almost completely done and the hotel is all set with the team."

The only trouble seems to be a serious breakdown in communication between the CroBar people, the Venetian, and H & H of Nevada, which is the company that holds the lease to the club space.

According to Scott Iwamoto, a partner and general manager of C2K through H & H, CroBar is not coming to the Venetian. Instead, Iwamoto maintains that H & H will run the club on its own and plans a soft opening for Friday, and a grand-opening bash on Nov. 11. Iwamoto says that he and his crew are indeed open to looking at interested nightclub participants, but that they have not heard from the hotel about dealings with CroBar.

According to one source, that is because the Venetian is looking to distance itself from H & H following the messy recent closing of C2K. "The hotel pretty much wants H & H to have as little to do with the new club as possible," one insider maintains. "They're negotiating on how to get (CroBar) in without H & H knowing too much about it."

Should CroBar, the Venetian and H & H agree on a contract, the newly renovated C2K will reopen in six to eight weeks.

It's official. Tommy Tune will be leaving "EFX" on Jan. 15, exactly two years to the day after he took over the lead in the production show. Tune confirmed the decision Monday.

No official word yet on who will fill his shoes. Rick Springfield is apparently still in the running to land the lead, and Huey Lewis has been thrown into the mix. Lewis, once considered a front-runner to take over for David Cassidy before Tune came along, reportedly met with MGM Grand entertainment gurus last week.

Muhammed Ali was feted at a private Las Vegas cocktail party this week. Boxing promoter Bob Arum, along with his wife, Lovee, hosted the Spago-catered event at their home to raise money for the Muhammed Ali Center.

The center, scheduled to open in early 2003 in Ali's hometown of Louisville, Ky., will be an interactive, state-of-the-art, multimedia museum featuring highlights from the legendary boxer's life and career.

The Arums hosted the $1,000-per-person soiree to help raise awareness for Ali's larger Los Angeles fund-raiser, which will be Nov. 16. Tables for 10 at that celebrity-studded (Billy Crystal will host, Arnold Schwarzenegger will assist) roast/toast are going for as high as $100,000.

Female impersonator Kenny Kerr apparently has a new-and-improved show in the works. After getting the boot from the Plaza, Kerr has revamped his show to include a live eight-piece band, six dancers and more "specialty acts"(whatever that means).

Kerr now just needs to find a home for his upgraded show. One of his producers claims two Strip properties are interested, and they should settle on a showroom, somewhere, in the next two weeks.