Late on Sunday, a ferocious blaze devastated a historically significant yet vacant structure on Las Vegas’s iconic west side. Nestled at the corner of F Street and 600 West Jackson Avenue, this edifice had served as the Tokyo Casino in recent times, but was historically revered as the Town Tavern.
This very location was the proposed site for a grandiose construction project by Beverly Hills developer, Shlomo Meiri. His vision, outlined in April, was to erect a mixed-use casino resort and residential complex soaring 60-stories into the Las Vegas skyline, aptly named Harlem Nights (an homage to the 1989 Eddie Murphy/Richard Pryor film). The renovation of the Town Tavern building to accommodate a casino was also part of Meiri’s grand plan.
However, the FAA interjected with their mandate, restricting Meiri’s ambitious design to a more conservative 34-story structure. Adding salt to the wound, the cherished Town Tavern structure is now beyond salvation and destined for demolition.
Despite this setback, Meiri remains resilient, quoted by KVVU-TV as saying, “Sure, it’s more complicated now without a building to refinance, but the timing should remain unchanged, granted the city cooperates to better the community.” No formal approval for the Harlem Nights project has been secured as of yet, however, Meiri is hopeful of realizing his dream venture within half a decade.
The Town Tavern’s legacy began on July 5, 1955. The 7,000-square-foot club, teeming with blackjack and craps tables, became a bastion of African-American culture prior to the desegregation of the Las Vegas Strip in 1960. It hosted legendary performances, attracting celebrities like Cab Calloway, Chubby Checker, Nat King Cole, and Sammy Davis Jr to its audience.
In 1959, after a change in management, it was rebranded as the New Town Tavern. Although it ceased operations in 1970, it sprung back to life in 1981 as the Ultra New Town Tavern, with the addition of 36 slot machines and two gaming tables. Sadly, the establishment closed down once again in 2003 following the last owner’s passing and resultant roof collapse. As a result, in 2010, the building was boarded up after being declared as unsafe by the city of Las Vegas.
However, the evolving saga of Las Vegas’s west side is just one example of the ever-changing face of the casino industry. Speaking of which, if you’re unable to make it to Vegas but have a penchant for trying your luck, we have something for you right here.
At the West Island Blog, we’ve curated a list of the top online casinos that you can access right from your computer or mobile device. Whether you’re a blackjack enthusiast or a fan of the slots, we have something that’s just right for you. In fact, you might find the ease and convenience of online gambling just as appealing, if not more, than a trip down to your local casino. We’re on hand to make your online casino experience rewarding and unforgettable.
