The Ridiculously Massive Downtown Plywood Update

No less than 17 new restaurant, bar and lounge projects are under construction in Downtown Las Vegas. Fremont Street East makes up the biggest zone with new vittles and cocktailing, while Neonopolis will soon be home to three new restaurants and bars including the flagship Denny’s. And don’t forget the Arts District up by Charleston Boulevard, where a few new treasures are planning to open.

The earliest to open will probably be Eat, Natalie Young’s breakfast and lunch spot, unless Backstage Billiards stays on track with a Labor Day opening. Others, such as DW Bistro, won’t even get started until later this year.

With that, take a look at the what’s about to come to Downtown.

Pizza Rock
Location: Downtown 3rd
Pizza god Tony Gemignani from Pizza Rock in San Francisco plans to open a downtown Vegas outpost of his famous joint.
Opening: December 2012
· All Coverage of Pizza Rock [~ELV~]
[Photo: Chelsea McManus]

Denny’s
Location: 450 Fremont St.
Denny’s is building a flagship diner at Neonopolis complete with a supper club theme, a wedding chapel and interactive photo booth in 12,000 square feet on the first floor of Neonopolis.
Opening: December 2012
· All Coverage of Denny’s [~ELV~]
[Photo: Chelsea McManus]

Banger Brewing
Location: 450 Fremont St.
Local brewmasters Banger Brewing plan to open a 7,500-square-foot space formerly occupied by Jillian’s, below Drink & Drag Lounge, sometime next year.
Opening: 2013
· All Coverage of Banger Brewing [~ELV~]
[Photo: Chelsea McManus]

Krave Massive
Location: 450 Fremont St.
Krave Massive transplants the gay nightclub Krave to the third floor of Neonopolis. Five themed dance rooms — covering house, top 40, hip-hop, country and Latin music — will be created inside. A martini lounge, a members-only VIP lounge called Indulge Private Lounge, Tickled Pink comedy club, a performing arts theater, an LGBT movie theater, a retail store and a lesbians-only dance lounge are among the proposed venues within the club. There’s even talk of a 20,000-square-foot pool being built in front of the club, complete with cabanas.
Opening: December 2012
· All Coverage of Krave Massive [~ELV~]
[Photo: Chelsea McManus]

Park on Fremont
Location: 506 Fremont St.
Park takes over the former Maharaja Hookah Lounge space and plans to feature a bar, beer garden and restaurant. Look for custom cocktails, an impressive beer selection and gastropub fare. The name comes from the parklike setting that inspires the space. Expect to find shabby-chic furniture, antique-style lampposts and a communal table in the shade of live oaks and extensive trellising
Opening: Late 2012
[Photo: Chelsea McManus]

Radio City Pizzeria
Location: 508 Fremont St.
Radio City Pizzeria already has a location in Tivoli Village and now plans to open a second on Fremont Street. Last week, the pizzeria was approved for a liquor license.
Opening: Opening: Unknown, construction approved this week
· All Coverage of Radio City Pizzeria [~ELV~]
[Photo: Chelsea McManus]

Commonwealth
Location: 525 Fremont St.?
Commonwealth plans to take up two stories with “a mixture of snooty English country home, distressed Boston pub and an urban rooftop garden,” says partner Michael Parks. Inside, the owners plan exposed original brick and wood beams with a long main bar and a vintage stuffed albino peacock reigning over the scene. Leather and wood seating will surround the lower level, while two stairwells lead up to the rooftop deck bedecked in carnival lights, a DJ booth and a second bar. The 6,000-square-foot bar plans to serve wine on tap and cocktails from tin camping cups.?
Opening: Late summer 2012
· All Coverage of Commonwealth [~ELV~]
[Photo: Chelsea McManus]

Backstage Billiards
Location: 601 Fremont St.?
Backstage Billiards plans to open a 4,000-square-foot pool hall with booths made from construction cases and gold records lining the walls.
Opening: Labor Day 2012
· All Coverage of Backstage Billiards [~ELV~]
[Photo: Chelsea McManus]

Fremont Country Club
Location: 601 Fremont St.?
Fremont Country Club plans to be a 10,000-square-foot live music venue with blues, rock and alternative bands paying three or four nights a week. Inside, find cow-skin ceilings, antler chandeliers and chrome horseshoes.?
Opening: October 2012
· All Coverage of Fremont Country Club [~ELV~]
[Photo: Chelsea McManus]

Michael Morton Mexican Restaurant
Location: 106 Sixth St.
Restauranteur Michael Morton plans to open a Mexican spot with American rock influences here. Expect a mix of spice, sound, color and many tequilas.
Opening: March 2013
· All Coverage of Michael Morton [~ELV~]
[Photo: Chelsea McManus]

Pork and Beans
Location: Fremont and Seventh streets
Michael Cornthwaite, the man behind the Downtown Cocktail Room, is tinkering with a beer and sausage concept tentatively called Pork and Beans. The land at Fremont and Seventh streets is tentatively planned to become the Downtown Project, an experimental development from Zappos honcho Tony Hsieh that houses businesses in shipping containers. Other food concepts in the works in the shipping containers: barbecue, tacos and a wine bar and charcuterie spot.
Opening: Unknown
· Downtown’s Dining Options Are About to Explode [LVW]
[Photo: Chelsea McManus]

Atomic Liquors
Location: 917 E. Fremont St.
Atomic Liquors had a rich history in Downtown Las Vegas until it shuttered in January 2011. New owners Lance Johns, his brother Kent Johns, a commercial real estate broker salesman, and Derek Stonebarger plan to convert the 2,500-square-foot venue into an entertainment hub for artists.
Opening: Late 2012
· All Coverage of Atomic Liquors [~ELV~]
[Photo: Chelsea McManus]

Eat
Location: 707 Carson St.
Natalie Young of P.J. Clarke’s fame opens a breakfast and lunch spot on the first floor of an apartment building.
Opening: September 2012
· All Coverage of Eat [~ELV~]
[Photo: Chelsea McManus]

DW Bistro
Location: 401 S. Sixth St.
DW Bistro plans to take over the former Andre’s downtown location, making it the second outpost of the popular restaurant.
Opening: February 2013
· All Coverage of DW Bistro [~ELV~]
[Photo: Chelsea McManus]

Slice A Perfect Food
Location: 150 Las Vegas Blvd. N.
Miki Agrawal from Manhattan is planning to open her healthy A Perfect Slice at the Ogden with a little help from Zappos head honcho Tony Hsieh.
Opening: Late 2012 or early 2013
· All Coverage of Slice A Perfect Food [~ELV~]
[Photo: Susan Stapleton]

Velveteen Rabbit
Location: 1218 S. Main St.
The Velveteen Rabbit takes over a vacant space ravaged by fire. This lounge named for a children’s book to leap onto the scene this fall.
Opening: Late 2012
· All Coverage of the Velveteen Rabbit [~ELV~]
[Photo: Chelsea McManus]

Mingo Kitchen & Lounge
Location: 1017 N. First St.
Mingo Collaso already has Mundo at the World Market Center. Now he plans to open Mingo Kitchen and Lounge, a more casual concept with American (and likely Latin-influenced) small plates and cocktails.
Opening: September 2012
· All Coverage of Mingo Kitchen & Lounge [~ELV~]
[Photo: Chelsea McManus]