A scene from Krave during its days at its Planet Hollywood digs.
Monday, June 3, 2013 | 5:08 p.m.
Map of Neonopolis
On schedule to open its first phase on June 15, Krave Massive in downtown Las Vegas staged an open call for job applicants Monday afternoon, receiving about 100 applications within the first hour.
Cory Lloyd, Krave's director of entertainment, said when everyone is hired in all areas – go-go dancers, bartenders, wait staff, bar backs and others – the club will have hired almost 200 people.
A mainstay on the Strip for eight years, Krave announced last July its move downtown into space that formerly housed a 14-screen, 80,000-square-foot multiplex movie theater on the third floor of Neonpolis, 450 Fremont St. At the time of the announcement, hopes were for Krave Massive to open in December 2012.
Lloyd, who has worked with Krave for three years, acknowledged media reports months ago about doubts from some city and former Krave employees about the viability of the project. Lloyd said club investors, which now includes Caesars Entertainment and Downtown Project, took their time for a reason.
“It’s taken a long time to get there, but we didn’t want to open until we felt it’s ready,” he said. “It’s more important to get it right.”
When Krave Massive debuts in two weeks, the first of five rooms will be opened, featuring Top 40 house music. Lloyd added that the next week, a room featuring hip-hop music would open. Later on, Latin and country/western rooms will open. Club operators also have said Krave Massive would include a gay comedy club, a space for performing arts, a LGBT movie theater and a martini lounge.
Neonopolis opened in 2002 and was hoped to infuse new life into downtown Las Vegas. Instead, within a short time, storefronts in the three-story cubic structure closed. Then it was sold for pennies on the dollar. Now it houses a Denny’s and a few more businesses, including the popular Drink & Drag, a bar and venue that features drag queens, bowling, pool and dancing.
Lloyd said Krave initially would be open beginning at 9 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays; later it will be open Wednesdays through Sundays.
Interviews Monday were conducted in Drink & Drag on Neonopolis’ second floor. Drink & Drag opened in the spring of 2012, and owner Kelly Murphy has said it draws 4,500 people per week. He expects Krave Massive to draw 12,000 customers per week.
Krave nightclub inside Planet Hollywood on the Strip drew about 4,100 per week.
Join the Discussion:
Check this out for a full explanation of our conversion to the LiveFyre commenting system and instructions on how to sign up for an account.
Full comments policy