We're guessing you're referring to Town Square, as opposed to CityCenter, which is the 16,797,000-square-foot hotel-casino-condo-retail-dining complex that MGM Resorts International debuted on the center-Strip last December.
Town Square, on the other hand, is an open-air retail development located farther south, past Mandalay Bay, which opened in November 2007. It's where the I-15 meets the 215, on the site of the former Vacation Village hotel-casino.
The 117-acre development is designed to evoke a European village, and features a central park that gets used for family-friendly events like the upcoming "Movies in the Square" series next month, plus retail stores, an 18-screen movie theater, restaurants, bars, and office space. There's also a theater that was built to house a show that never opened, and has since featured an eclectic series of short runs. The Whole Foods Market has regularly hosted cooking demonstrations by well-known chefs, including a series last year featuring celebrity chefs from Wynn and Encore.
While the concept of constructing a European-style village in the desert had the potential to be as cheesy as an overripe Camembert, Town Square was actually well-executed and is very pleasant to stroll around. One of the partners is Turnberry Associates, known for their high-end properties, while the contractor was Marnell Corrao Associates, the architectural firm/family behind the Rio, including the high roller Palazzo Suites, Bellagio, the Forum Shops, Wynn, and M Resort. The retail stores are high-end high street, rather than the designer stores you find in the more upscale casino malls -- think H&M, Apple, Abercrombie & Fitch, Sephora, Armani Exchange, Puma, Fossil, Guess, and so on.
We weren't sure how Town Square would work out as a locals nightlife magnet, but it turns out to have been a great success. There have been a few casualties along the way, including Louis's and Louis's Fish Camp, the two restaurants opened by South Carolina-based chef Louis Osteen and his Las Vegas chef Carlos Guia, formerly of Commander's Palace Las Vegas, and along with about a dozen other Las Vegas shopping centers, Town Square is currently in receivership. However, new venues continue to open, like the excelelnt Caña Latin Kitchen & Bar, Nu Sanctuary Lounge, which is getting rave reviews, and the brand new Lolita's, which we haven't tried yet. Old favorites like Yard House, The Grape, Brio Tuscan Grille, and Blue Martini all seem to be thriving, with the latter still offering its fantastic happy hour deal (from 4 to 8 p.m. every day, food and drinks are half-price), which continues to pull a big crowd.
If you haven't yet paid Town Square a visit, we'd say its well worth the trip and makes a relaxing change from the craziness of the Strip. Check out the stores, have a cocktail at one of the bars, and try one of the many excellent dining options.
