While it might be more common to celebrate a big jackpot with a nice, juicy steak or high-end buffet, pretty soon those in Vegas will be able to parlay their winnings at cult favorite White Castle. Not too long down the road can people get a sack of 10, chicken rings, or for the true gamblers out there, a whole Crave Case. Opening inside Casino Royale this month, the mid-west staple will now be available in their only location west of Missouri.
The highly anticipated opening has led to upwards of 50 people a day calling the casino inquiring if they can get their sliders yet. In addition to White Castle, Shake Shack unveiled their first location west of the Mississippi, while Smashburger makes their Strip debut. Shake Shack currently has 63 international locations, and started in 2004 in New York City’s Madison Square Park.
Shake Shack CEO Randy Garutti is enamored with his strip location due to it being next to a park as well. “It felt so right for us,” Garutti said. “It’s a community gathering place.” Shake Shack, along with their new neighbor Tom’s Urban, will be serving local craft beers as well, including Tenaya Creek and Joseph James, helping Las Vegas play catch up to the nation’s evolving craft beer scene.
If you aren’t feeling a burger, Caesars Palace has debuted DiFiara Pizza, a popular Brooklyn pizzeria, and a favorite of Caesars Palace President Gary Selesner. Selesner loves their pizza so much, on a recent trip to India, he specifically chose a connecting flight out of New York just so he could grab some of their famous pie, nearly causing him to miss his flight.
As anyone who has been on the Strip in the past few years can tell you, the times are changing. With a profile diversifying and evolving, restaurants and the dining experience all together have become the epitome of that diversification.
As Darren Tristano, executive vice president of Technomic, a Chicago-based market research and consulting company put it, “The Las Vegas Strip is a place where most brands want some level of involvement.” He added, “It’s also known as a late night place. It gets busier after 10 p.m.”
Al Ries, an Atlanta marketing and brand consultant said, “Even if a restaurant loses money on the Strip, exposure to the millions of people visiting Las Vegas every year is worth a lot to an individual chain.” Ries pointed out that in Times Square, it’s common to see billboards sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars a year due to the high volume exposure.
The Linq will be home to the latest iteration of Off the Strip, a bistro and bar known for high-end comfort food. Tom Goldsbury, a partner of Off the Strip said they have benefited dramatically from foot traffic the High Roller has provided. The joint also crafts unique cocktails in addition to a menu which lead Goldsbury to say, “Everything is evolving and I couldn’t find a better niche that fits my food.”
The new food court at Caesars Palace spans 28,000 square feet providing 30 percent more seating and finds itself at the convergence of the Forum Shoppes at Caesars, new nightclub Omnia, the Colosseum events center, and the self-parking garage’s entrance.
The several million visitors trekking through Caesars Palace played a large part in Smashburger opening on the Strip. The location marks number 310 for the company, which span six countries. While the average Smashburger check is around $9.50, the Caesars bill will be around $12 to $13.
