Ed Komenda

Story Archive

A Smashing success: Burger joint to open sixth location in the valley: Thursday, July 18, 2013; Smashburger's stamp is about to get bigger in Southern Nevada. The restaurant plans to open a new location July 24 at 7390 Las Vegas Blvd. South.
'Largest non-nightclub restaurant' opens at Forum Shops: Tuesday, July 16, 2013; After more than a year in the making, Carmine’s opened its doors in the Forum Shops at Caesars on Tuesday. The 27,000-square-foot Italian eatery now employs more than 200 people and offers more than 700 seats.
For sale online: A $70,000 restaurant, a $90,000 market and a $50,000 clothing shop: Monday, July 15, 2013; Looking to buy a business in Las Vegas? You might have to go no farther than your computer. Hundreds of local companies and shops are for sale on the Las Vegas page of Craigslist.
The Culinary Union: A history of striking: Monday, July 15, 2013; The Culinary has had a reputation as the scrappiest labor union in town from nearly its inception. Deservedly so. The union has organized several successful strikes.
Culinary Union letters aim to secure better contracts but could backfire and cost jobs: Monday, July 15, 2013; When Las Vegas' largest labor union sits down every five years to hash out new contracts with the city's major resorts, it's often a cordial affair. Insiders have compared negotiations between the Culinary Union and its two biggest partners, MGM Resorts International and Caesars Entertainment, to a Thanksgiving dinner or a friendly waltz. But despite the overt coziness, the Culinary, which represents about 60,000 bartenders, maids and food servers, pulls no punches. The union has a track record of using guerrilla tactics to pressure resorts into inking contracts that increase worker wages, subsidize health care benefits and guarantee full-time workweeks.
Selling a business on Craigslist: The perks and pitfalls: Monday, July 15, 2013; Joseph Francis paid a hefty commission in the early 2000s when he sold a previous salon. Now, crunched by Southern Nevada’s crumbled economy, Francis said he would rather save cash and try doing the job himself using the free online listings site Craigslist.
California says Galaxy Gaming unfit for business; may lead to Nevada investigation: Friday, July 12, 2013; Galaxy Gaming Inc, a Las Vegas table game developer, has been found unsuitable to do business in California.
Plumbing problems close parts of Flamingo, affecting shows and hotel stays: Thursday, July 11, 2013; Plumbing problems at the Flamingo have put several parts of the resort on hold. Officials have closed the food court, several hotel rooms and shows until repairs are made.
Ultimate Gaming completes test run of online poker site: Thursday, July 11, 2013; Ultimate Gaming has completed its 30-day field trial for Ultimate Poker, the first ever fully legal online gambling site in the United States.
Book a private jet to Las Vegas in less than a minute: Thursday, July 11, 2013; BlackJet, a company developed by the same owners of the luxury taxi service Uber, has rolled out an iPhone application that allows travelers to book a private jet in 10 clicks.
Welcome to the future of Las Vegas: What will casinos look like in 2033, and will they still be fabulous?; Thursday, July 11, 2013; It’s 8 p.m. July 11, 2033. Hot and getting hotter. There’s a high of 117 outside McCarran International Airport, and you’re fighting the odd desire to crack an egg over the asphalt, Tweetagram it. You can see the Strip through the glass window at arrivals. It looks roughly the same as you remember—the iconic shapes of the Luxor, Paris and Wynn still cutting through the sky—but you’ve heard a lot has changed since your last visit. “You want in?” your girlfriend asks, sitting in a semicircle of friends. She’s put together a Texas hold ’em table on her tablet, connected to a pack of players in a hotel room at Caesars Palace.
Ranch owner had hoped fire would miss his Mount Charleston retreat; it didn't: Wednesday, July 10, 2013; Barry Becker looked forward to the weekends, when he’d drive up to Prospect Springs Ranch and unwind. As owner of the 40-acre mountainside pad, the 68-year-old businessman visited the ranch every Saturday to make sure the place looked nice.
Man hits $3.1 million jackpot at Palms in Las Vegas: Wednesday, July 3, 2013; A lucky Las Vegas local left the Palms last weekend a rich man.
On one end of the Strip, a giant wheel takes shape; on the other, a construction site sits quiet: Wednesday, July 3, 2013; Little action is taking place at the construction site for SkyVue, a 500-foot observation wheel and shopping-dining plaza being built across the street from Mandalay Bay. Construction workers rarely, if ever, are there. No changes have been made to the structure in months. The most noticeable movement at the site are dust clouds blowing between two towering columns that stand untouched.
Cirque 101: The ins and outs of the famous circus troupe: Tuesday, July 2, 2013; A lot has changed since Cirque du Soleil emerged on the international entertainment scene in 1984 from a small Canadian village. The company has spent the past three decades bringing high-flying acrobatics to cities across the world, building a net worth of more than $2 billion and massive legion of fans.
A sign of the times: Terrible's rebranding officially completed with new marquee: Tuesday, July 2, 2013; Affinity Gaming officials activated the new Silver Sevens neon sign, marking the completion of a $5 million, 18-month renovation and official name change for the former Terrible’s Hotel and Casino.
Casino lawyers' job: High pressure, big payout: Monday, July 1, 2013; Serving as a general counsel attorney for a major gaming company might be one of the most demanding jobs in the world. From lawsuits to labor strikes and a lagging economy, the job demands thick skin and endless endurance. Tim Donovan and Brian Larson are two of the best.
Poker blogger calls for boycott following casino magnate's tirade: Friday, June 28, 2013; An outraged poker icon wants his fellow players to stand up against casino magnate Sheldon Adelson’s crusade against Internet gambling. Longtime poker insider Nolan Dalla has called for a five-day boycott of all poker playing at the Venetian.
Adelson takes to Internet in fight against online gaming: Thursday, June 27, 2013; Sheldon Adelson wants the world to know his stance on Internet gaming.
Wet 'n' Wild offers dive-in movie: Thursday, June 27, 2013; Forget drive-in movies. Las Vegas now has a dive-in theater.
Paula Deen restaurants out at Caesars casinos: Wednesday, June 26, 2013; Caesars Entertainment Corp. has severed its business relationship with Paula Deen, the embattled celebrity chef who admitted making racial slurs in the past. The resort giant plans to rebrand Deen’s restaurants later this year.
Caesars exec leaving for post with California governor: Tuesday, June 25, 2013; Marybel Batjer, Caesars Entertainment Corp. vice president of public policy and corporate social responsibility, is leaving her job to work for Gov. Edmund Brown Jr. in California.
Las Vegas Sands CFO leaving despite strong first-quarter earnings: Tuesday, June 25, 2013; Kenneth Kay is stepping down as chief financial officer of Las Vegas Sands Corp.
Which Las Vegas attraction was named the No. 1 landmark in the U.S.?: Tuesday, June 25, 2013; Bellagio’s fountains have been named the No. 1 landmark in the U.S. TripAdvisor picked the famed Las Vegas attraction based on millions of reviews.
Boyd makes online access to Las Vegas properties easier: Tuesday, June 25, 2013; Boyd Gaming has launched a new website, where visitors can now book rooms at all of the company’s Las Vegas properties.
Ventis at Vdara: CityCenter adding a fourth Starbucks: Tuesday, June 25, 2013; A fourth Starbucks shop is slated for CityCenter — this time at Vdara.
Trust controlled by wife of Galaxy Gaming CEO files for bankruptcy protection: Monday, June 24, 2013; The Saucier Business Trust, owned by the wife of Galaxy Gaming Inc. CEO Robert Saucier, has filed bankruptcy to protect itself from a foreclosure brought on by Bank of America. The May 2 filing claims the trust had less than $50,000 in assets against nearly $2 million in debts.
Bally's tower gets new rooms, new name: Monday, June 24, 2013; Bally’s Las Vegas plans to renovate 756 rooms in its South Tower and rename it the Jubilee Tower, named after the longest-running burlesque act in Las Vegas and slated to welcome its first guests in late summer.
Working up a sweat: Thousands take to the Strip for an early morning calorie burn: Saturday, June 22, 2013; It was a whopper weekend workout. Led by a cast of celebrity fitness trainers, thousands of gym rats took part this morning in a live workout on the back lot of the MGM Grand.
Staff shake-up at the Riviera: CEO fired in move called 'amicable': Friday, June 21, 2013; Andy Choy, CEO of the Riviera, has been fired, and Noah Acres, senior vice president of gaming, has resigned, a source with knowledge of the company’s reorganization said.
Dynasty hotel-casino could open in Las Vegas by 2015: Wednesday, June 19, 2013; Clark County commissioners have green-lighted plans for a new 26-story hotel-casino on Flamingo Road. Currently home of the Fortune Hotel & Suites just west of Paradise Road, the plot of land between the Tuscany and the recently fire-damaged Key Largo could be transformed into The Dynasty Hotel & Casino as soon as 2015. While the property has never offered gaming in the past, the county’s approval entered Las Vegas Lucky Investments LLC into to the state-approved Gaming Enterprise District, allowing it to apply for a gaming license and open a 100,000-square-foot casino.
County OKs replacing Strip eyesore with casino preview centers: Wednesday, June 19, 2013; Clark County commissioners unanimously approved a plan from the Genting Group to build two preview exhibits on the site of the forthcoming Resorts World Las Vegas.
The Genting Group planning art exhibits and dragon dancers — and that's before Resorts World even opens: Wednesday, June 19, 2013; In a 24-hour town where nonstop action on the Strip dictates the pace of business, most resort operators don’t spend much time trying to draw vacationers to unopened properties.
Water park extends hours, offers twilight tickets: Tuesday, June 18, 2013; Wet ‘n’ Wild Las Vegas has extended its operating hours. Beginning this Friday and Saturday, and every Friday and Saturday thereafter, the park will open at 10 a.m. and close at 10 p.m. The park previously closed at 8 p.m. on those nights.
New Las Vegas Strip arena to cost $350 million: Tuesday, June 18, 2013; AEG and MGM Resorts International have ironed out the details of a deal to build a $350 million arena behind the Monte Carlo and New York-New York resorts. The 20,000-seat arena will stretch from Las Vegas Boulevard to Frank Sinatra Drive.
Move over, NY-NY Roller Coaster: Another roller coaster - the Polercoaster - is proposed for the Strip: Tuesday, June 18, 2013; A Florida roller coaster company wants to build a towering roller coaster in Las Vegas, but the project has a long way to go before becoming a reality. US Thrill Rides LLC filed an application in April with the Federal Aviation Administration to build a 650-foot-tall observation deck and roller coaster called the Polercoaster. The FAA is reviewing the application, agency spokesman Ian Gregor said.
Sin City? Blog says the title rightfully belongs to St. Louis, not Las Vegas: Tuesday, June 18, 2013; Las Vegas newbies often call this neon paradise by its clichéd nickname. But how does Sin City stack up against debauchery in other major cities?
Need python boots? Cuadra exotic leather store coming to Las Vegas: Monday, June 17, 2013; A high-end Mexican leather maker is opening its second shop in the United States at the Palazzo’s Grand Canal Shoppes.
Culinary supporters picket on Strip in effort to shame the Cosmopolitan: Friday, June 14, 2013; A sea of red-shirted picketers collectively looked up from Las Vegas Boulevard and shook their fingers at the Cosmopolitan. "Shame on you!" they yelled. "Shame on you!"
Las Vegas race to be renamed the Boyd Gaming 300: Friday, June 14, 2013; Las Vegas Motor Speedway’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race will soon have a new name: the Boyd Gaming 300. Previously named the Sam’s Town 300 — a tribute to a Boyd Gaming property — the race has been sponsored by the gaming powerhouse since 1997 and will carry the new name beginning in 2014, the Speedway announced this week.
Picketers plan to block Strip in front of Cosmopolitan: Friday, June 14, 2013; Thousands of Culinary Union members plan to picket outside the Cosmopolitan tonight, blocking two lanes of Las Vegas Boulevard.
Are 'entertainment fees' and 'resort fees' just a way for hotels to jack up their rates?: Friday, June 14, 2013; Golden Nugget officials say there’s a valid reason behind their decision to add a $5 nightly fee to customers' bills. The casino-resort is calling the charge a "Fremont Street Experience fee." Vice President of Marketing Amy Chasey said it is necessary to offset growing operational costs. But others in the industry say calling the charge an entertainment fee is disingenuous.
The 'Boy Hunter' is ready for work: Krave Massive, the world's largest gay club, opens Saturday: Friday, June 14, 2013; After months of preparation and several setbacks, Krave Massive finally has arrived. The club welcomes its first guests Saturday night. Owner Kelly Murphy couldn't be more relieved. Planning the grand opening of the world’s largest gay club in a new downtown location hasn’t allowed him much sleep over the past year.
Floating off-Strip dining room to debut this summer: Wednesday, June 12, 2013; Construction of a dining room that will be hoisted 180 feet in the air began today with officials plunging spoon-shaped shovels in a mound of mulch.
The Fremont Street Experience no longer free at the Golden Nugget: Wednesday, June 12, 2013; The Golden Nugget, an anchor of downtown Las Vegas, plans to start July 1 charging hotel guests $5 a night for the Fremont Street Experience. “It’s not a resort fee,” said Tiffany Hauck, the Golden Nugget’s public relations manger.
Chocolate-lovers take note: New business to sweeten the deal at MGM park project: Tuesday, June 11, 2013; A giant Reese's Peanut Butter Cup and Hershey's bar are slated for the sweet spot between the Strip's Statue of Liberty and Brooklyn Bridge.
New bottle at Vegas pools, clubs gets beer colder faster: Tuesday, June 11, 2013; A new, pool-friendly beer bottle has just landed in Las Vegas. Anheuser-Busch has released an 11.5-ounce reclosable aluminum bottle at nightclubs and pools throughout the city. Bud Light Platinum will be the first beer delivered in the new aluminum bottle.
Caesars Interactive takes over World Series of Poker mobile app: Tuesday, June 11, 2013; Caesars Interactive Entertainment Inc. has acquired the rights and ownership of the popular World Series of Poker mobile application.
A Las Vegas mystery: What's up with all the shoe prints in casino garages?: Tuesday, June 11, 2013; Anyone who has parked in a casino garage has probably seen them: thousands of dirty shoe prints stamped onto garage ceilings and support beams. Almost all of the Strip properties display them. The prints come in all shapes and sizes and feature varying degrees of darkness. Some suggest the stamper used a bare foot. Almost all of the Strip properties display them.
Poker player's losing hand turns out to be a winner for everyone: Thursday, June 6, 2013; For the second time since Caesars Entertainment rolled out a promotion that favors losing poker hands, a player at Planet Hollywood has triggered a six-figure jackpot.