Aladdin to announce unique showroom/nightclub concept

Monday, June 11, 2001 | 11:10 a.m.

The Las Vegas Strip's Aladdin megaresort is "days away" from finalizing a deal to install a unique combination showroom and nightclub, Aladdin officials said today.

A 1,200-seat showroom that converts into a nightclub should open in the first quarter of 2002. As previously reported by Las Vegas Sun columnist Kate Maddox, the club will feature nightly performances by actress Carmen Electra.

"That was a selling point to us, that we'd get double duty (as a showroom and nightclub) out of it," said Aladdin spokesman Fred Lewis. "We've always reserved the space as a showroom. Many people have looked at it, but came up with ideas we didn't think would make it."

The club will be developed by Showclubs of America LLC, controlled by Hollywood producers David Tumaroff and Gary Oulette, in space leased by the Aladdin. It will be located on the Aladdin's mezzanine level, between the Elements restaurant and the London Club at the Aladdin.

"We're looking forward to the traffic it will bring us on a daily basis," said Lynn Holt, another Aladdin spokesman. "It's located near our restaurants and the London Club, and we're eager to send more guests up in that direction."

Generating visitor traffic is of paramount importance for the Aladdin, which has struggled with a heavy debt load and anemic cash flow since opening last August. Its financial difficulties have caused much speculation that the resort could be headed for bankruptcy, though Aladdin officials in recent days have been negotiating with their lenders to re-work the resort's debt repayment schedule.

Holt referred additional questions about details of the showroom and nightclub to Tumaroff, who couldn't be reached for comment this morning. The Wall Street Journal reported that the glass-enclosed nightclub would span 45,000 square feet and feature a separate VIP club overlooking the Strip. Electra's show, "Lumiere," would be followed by a topless act called "Hollywood Blondes," the Journal said.

At 45,000 square feet, the nightclub would be twice as large as "Sevilla," a three-level Latin-themed nightclub and restaurant slated for the attached Desert Passage mall. Negotiations with the businessman who owns the original Sevilla club, located in Denver, have been proceeding since last year.

Bart DeLorenzo, owner of Sevilla, couldn't be reached for comment this morning on the Lumiere plans, but said earlier this month he expected to finalize a deal with Desert Passage owner TrizecHahn by mid-June, and open the club by New Year's Eve.