Five vendors on Fremont Street ordered to vacate

By Liz Benston

Tuesday, July 27, 2004 | 10:46 a.m.

The management of the Fremont Street Experience outdoor mall in downtown Las Vegas has terminated the leases of five vendors as part of a move to "change the direction" of the mall.

Vendors say they received surprise notices from mall management July 21 indicating that their monthly leases would not be renewed and that they must vacate the mall by the end of the month.

Some of those tenants say they believe other vendors, including kiosks selling souvenirs, will eventually be forced out as part of an initiative by Fremont Street Experience President and Chief Executive Joe Schillaci to upgrade the outdoor mall and attract major, corporate brands.

"This is just the tip of the iceberg," said John Connelly, owner of Angel Feathers Photo. "(Schillaci) doesn't like the carnival atmosphere of the Fremont Street Experience."

Schillaci said today that the removal of the five non-kiosk vendors is designed to give visitors a better experience and not a move to replace them with big corporations.

"We're looking to maintain certain standards to support our brand strategy by improving the overall experience and reducing some of the clutter," Schillaci said.

He said the non-kiosk vendors were causing traffic "pinch points" that if removed would improve the overall flow of the mall.

According to a letter sent to the five vendors, mall managers are terminating the leases "due to a recent change in the direction of the retail program."

Schillaci, a former president of the Six Flags Magic Mountain theme park in Southern California, has previously discussed raising revenue at the Fremont Street Experience by allowing companies to advertise during the mall's nightly lightshows. The mall last month unveiled a $17 million upgrade to the overhead canopy that replaced millions of lightbulbs with LED lamps, offering viewers a sharper image.

Vendors said they didn't know whether the mall intends to have corporate sponsors operate booths or simply advertise at the venue.

James Dimitri Karavas, owner of Original Oil Paintings, said management has the right to change its retail mix but resents the 10-day notice.

"I understand it's business, but you don't kick out people overnight like I'm some kind of scumbag," he said.

Schillaci confirmed that the vendors are on 30-day leases but that the notification that was given is in conformance to termination specifications.

After about a year selling and painting portraits at the Fremont Street Experience, Karavas said he may return to selling his artwork at juried art shows.

Jimmy's Art Studio owner Jimmy Tan, a six-year tenant of the Fremont Street Experience, said he is having difficulty finding another place to do business on short notice. Some of the casino retail areas have waiting lists or are filled up, he said.

"I've been here almost six years and I've never had any problems with management," he said. "I don't know why they are doing this."

Connelly, who takes tourists' pictures as they pose with exotic birds, said Fremont Street Experience has developed into a family attraction by virtue of the artists and their kiosks.

"It's full of people every night," he said.

Doug Ellison, owner of Incredible Creatures, said he has heard from mall management that they intend to replace vendors with "big corporate names" who will no doubt spend more on advertising.

The fair atmosphere offered by the small kiosk owners is what attracts families, said Ellison, who takes photos of tourists with live snakes.

"They can see the (light) show, they can shop, they can get a photo with the birds," he said. "Families can't really hang out in the casinos."