The NASCAR Cafe is not part of the fire sale that started today at the Sahara. The racing memorabilia, arcade games, and other NASCAR-related items were excluded from the liquidation and are being saved, according to Sahara owner SBE Entertainment, with a view to reopening the popular restaurant elsewhere in town. No potential new venue was mentioned in the report we read, but we'll keep an ear to the ground and pass it on if/when we hear anything.
As to another reader's query regarding whether the NASCAR Cafe was part of a chain, as far as we can tell, the answer is no, it was a one-off restaurant designed specifically for Las Vegas and the Sahara. We did come across a group of three venues under the NASCAR Sports Grille banner, located in Orlando, FL; Hampton, VA; and Shelbybille, IN, but these appear to be unrelated to the former Las Vegas restaurant.
The sale of all the other Sahara inventory kicked off at 10 a.m. this morning and, according to accounts we read, was a somewhat chaotic affair, with people left standing in line outside for hours in triple-digit temperatures. We're not sure what's left after Day 1 of the sale, but if you're planning on heading down today, make sure you take plenty of water and dress for the heat, in case the long lines persist.
