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Retail, gaming center planned at Las Vegas Blvd. property
Wednesday, June 17, 2009 | 3:45 p.m.
The Holy Cow! Casino on Sahara Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard is closed on April 11, 2002.
Old Holy Cow!
Developers have acquired the site of the old Holy Cow! restaurant and brewery on Las Vegas Boulevard at Sahara Avenue and plan to build a Times Square-like retail and gaming center there.
The developer is Aspen Highlands Holdings LLC and includes Albuquerque architect George Rainhart and Arizona businessman Steve Johnson.
Plans on file with the city show a two-story, 40-foot-high center that would have 37,100 square feet of floor space and include a 9,000-square-foot casino, a restaurant and a tavern -- but no hotel.
Aspen Highlands plans to seek approvals for the project during a July 9 hearing before the Las Vegas Planning Commission.
Once city approvals are obtained, the developer plans to proceed immediately with taking down the Holy Cow! structure and building the project with an opening planned for fall 2010, said spokeswoman Lee Haney of Rogich Communications Group.
It would have a Walgreens and extensive LED advertising signage with full-motion video wrapping around Las Vegas Boulevard and Sahara Avenue.
The electronic signage would include a half-moon shaped sign rising to 137 feet. During a later phase, a sail-like sign rising to 547 feet would be added.
Johnson has been involved in several Walgreens developments in Las Vegas, including the one catering to tourists at the Venetian resort, an Aspen Highlands spokeswoman said.
The cost of the project wasn't disclosed. The larger sail-like sign has been proposed to the city, but that portion of the request will be withdrawn for now.
"We felt it was prudent to scale back what was originally contemplated for this site to something that we believe is realistic to build in these economic times," Johnson, managing member of Aspen Highlands Holdings, said Wednesday in a statement. "That said, we remain excited about the opportunity to create a gateway to the city through the development of a casino and Walgreens on such a high profile corner, including a state-of-the-art LED sign component that among other things will serve as the city’s own ‘Welcome to THE City (of Las Vegas)' iconic sign."
The location is at the southern end of Las Vegas with unincorporated Clark County and the Las Vegas Strip to the south.
“The applicant believes that the entire structure will provide an ‘iconic’ element at a location that is the gateway to the city of Las Vegas,'' said a letter to the city from the development team.
The Planning Commission staff is opposed to the larger sign, saying “it will have a negative visual impact on the neighboring residential developments to the north and east.''
Because the area is within an airport overlay district, the larger sign would need a variance because of its height. But the developer said the height shouldn't be an issue because the nearby Sahara and Stratosphere hotel-casinos are both taller.
The Holy Cow! Casino, Cafe and Brewery, a part of the Big Dog's Hospitality Group, closed in 2002 in the aftermath of the economic slowdown after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Since then a high-rise condominium was proposed for the high-profile site, but that didn't pan out.
Discussion: 19 comments so far…
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It is difficult to know if dreamers like these are the advance guard of a prosperous future or the final nail in the failure of the strip and downtown development. Good luck to them! The area, like others, is a little seamy and a cleanup might keep it viable. I bet they would be hard pressed to produce a marketing study to support this. If any government entity grants them concessions, the citizens should revolt and stop it!
Anybody else remember when that site was Foxy's Firehouse back in the late 70's - early 80's?
I remember when it was the site of Roxy's Deli, late fifties early sixties.
3rd time's...wait, 4th time's,...no....let me see here...
6th time's a charm, right?
there is ZERO foot traffic on that corner.
Of course, I also remember, as a kid, seeing Sophie Tucker across the street at the original El Rancho, early to middle fifties.
In those days, my favorite was the bumper cars at the Last Frontier Village, next to the Silver Slipper.
I couldn't wait for us to get checked into our suite at the Last Frontier Hotel, grab some silver dollars from the folks and get in one of those electrically driven cars.
Aim and bump, as a kid that was real excitement!
I remember bartender Mike at holy cow in the late 90s, that guy was a cool cat. Anyone know where he's bartending now, if at all.
in moving here in January ,09.It was my very first time in Las Vegas.The Las Vegas Strip was amazing to me as to anybody else who visits here for the first time.Lets not be discourage or egative to any thing new comming to that part of the Strip.It truely needs some help and new character.
Las vegas is an awsome town that obviously has been hit hard by the economy.For anybdy who will step up to the plate and start a new development in this economy I commend and believe that they are actually doing great in creating new jobs.
I remember both Holy Cow and Foxys ... good times. Stevem, there is a ton of traffic there, its one of the bussiest intersections in town. The site was sold to Ivana Trump for her condo building which after 9/11 no one bought, and therefore never built. This seems to have been the trend in Vegas, buy a site for condos, then when they dont sell, abandon it. Anyone remember Pinkies or The Beach?
The beach is now owned by marriot. They plan on putting a 3000 room hotel on that land. They were going to purchase pieros from mr guzman and own that whole corner of conv.center drive and paradise, but that deal fell through. It will the biggest marriot when it gets completed. That holly cow land is only less then two acres. I can't see there being enough room to do what they purpose
If they build it I hope they don't have those mexicans out front handing out those date cards.Last time we were in Vegas just outside the venetian it was terrible, these guys trying to had me a card with my wife along side, i took one and threw it at the guy, and later that night the sidewalks were littered with them and very slipperly, really a safety hazard, somoe will sue very soon on that.
revtomperl:
"....the final nail in the failure of the strip and downtown development. Good luck to them! The area, like others, is a little seamy and a cleanup might keep it viable..."
Guess you don't get out much..... When was the last time you were on the Strip and Downtown?
Sahara and the Strip isn't seemy and Downtown has improved tremendously. You should try and get out more ....
macks, you'll notice i used the word FOOT traffic. cars going by there doesn't matter.
most of the cars going east/west on sahara are locals with no desire to stop at the strip.
there are very few people that WALK on that corner on that side of the street.
building condos where people will live is very different from building a retail place where you need people to come to it.
Plans, schmans. This will be another flip for better property values. A Corporation buys up land, divulges huge ambitious plans and then flips the property after a few years, claiming they couldn't get financing in place. Strike a bell, Mr Ruffin?
Good for them. This town thankfully continues to draw people who create realistic projects despite the endless blah blah blah from the naysayers. Perish the thought if Steve Wynn listened to all the whiners in this town when he started building the Mirage.
Given the 10 year economic future, where baby boomers will save, save, save to replace their depleted retirement funds, this project will probably not come to fruition. If it does it will barely make it for a long time.
Holy Cow was an awesome venue when it was around. A non-casino in the shadow of the Sahara and the Bonanza Gift shop. Great food, fantastic beer, good times all around. I used to take visitors there and they always said how cool it was to have a micro-brewery operating right on the strip! I was sad to see it go. Anyone know what happened to the cow with the sunglasses that stood over the entrance?
Holy Cow - The last time I was there was for lunch 10 years ago. From what I remember, it wasn't a bad meal. I seriously doubt that this will get off the ground.
Regarding the question about Pinkie's and The Beach....I was there for both grand openings. I played in a Thu night pool league at Pinkie's and I remember that place well. I wonder why it went under? The Beach was great for about 5 yrs....then it seemed like they never cleaned the place. It smelled like rotting beer and puke......it was sad because that was so much fun when it first opened.
S711
The idea is actually not too bad. Remember, just a few steps on the other side of the Strip, there's the Echelon Place project. Ok, currently on hold, but definetely something Boyd Gaming plans to complete some day. And once it's getting completed, I reckon that the entire neighborhood will florish again....and then a Walgreens and other retailers might be the perfect place for people from the hotels to get their stuff. I will reconsider buying Boyd Gaming stocks as soon as I read that they will resume plans to continue work at Echelon.
From Switzerland
We have been franticly In search for Mr. Steve Johnson. Of Aspin Highlands Holdings LLC
To Talk to him about using His Building on Las Vegas Blvd. and Sahara Ave. as the New Site For the Comedian's Hall of Fame and the Magician's Hall of Fame
This Venue is at Free Entertainment Venue for Las Vegas Tourist and the Locals Residence to Enjoy and Pay Tribute to the Memories of the Entertainers that help Make Las Vegas what it is today. With all proceeds and donations going to assist the Homeless and Dispossessed, Children, and Veterans.
If Anyone Knows Mr. Steve Johnson. Would you please ask Him to get in Contact with Me.
Matt@comedianshalloffame.org
www.comedianshalloffame.org