Your First Inside Guide to the Downtown Container Park

For the proposed "new heart of Downtown Las Vegas," it's been a slow arrival for the Container Park from Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh and his Downtown Project urban redevelopment company. On paper, utilizing pre-built shipping containers and purpose-built "X Cube" building structures seemed like a quick way to construct a new venture. But the 56,000-square-foot project has confounded watchers, anxious to see a project first approved for construction in October 2012.

Eater Vegas has compiled a complete list tenants, opening hours and what to expect when it finally opens. A number of patient tenants have posted opening dates ranging from Nov. 23-25, but a soft opening before the end of November is expected. Widely perceived as dropping the ball by not being open for the Life is Beautiful festival in October, the park will provide plenty of retail opportunities for the holiday season and maybe meet the Black Friday shopping crush.

For hungry guests, a range of casual dining options include a L.A transplant, chef Kerry Simon's twist on the hot dog and booze creations from Downtown Cocktail Room's Michael Cornthwaite.

Park managers have adopted an innovative approach to tenants, with some available leases running as short as a month, assuring a changing mix of retailers and most likely, changes to the food and beverage operators over the coming year.

Downtown Container Park [Photo: Bradley Martin]

Once rumored to be a 24-hour operation, the main facility will keep a regular set of hours but leave some wiggle room for special events.

The Container Park itself will be free of charge and open from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. weekdays and until 1 a.m on weekends. Retailers open at 10 a.m. and close at 9 p.m. during the week and 11 p.m. on weekends. Restaurants open at 11 a.m. close at 11 p.m. and stay open until 1 a.m. weekends. Individual tenants can choose their own schedules within those park guidelines. Curfew hours for those under 21 will apply when necessary.

There is only one entry point into the park, located on Fremont Street. A small X Cube will act as concierge, box office and daily guide to events and happenings in the park. The primary exit point is in the middle of the park, next door to the Bin 702 wine bar, exiting onto Seventh Street. No outside food or alcohol will be permitted inside the park and smoking is only permitted on the second floor deck above Cornthwaite's The Boozery bar.

Despite a visible amount of alcohol purveyors, the motto of the park is "family friendly" and much emphasis has been placed on visible security officers, with 30 video cameras monitoring the scene.

Tickets will be required for The Catalyst Dome, a 360-degree video projection space with an equally surrounding sound system. Programming and events have yet to be announced.

Concerts will be held at the rear of the park on a stage facing an open lawn. The grassy area is designed for about 800 people standing and 600 with chairs. The lawn will also be available for regular events such as yoga. During "Happy Hours," suggested to be between 5 and 8 p.m., live music will be featured. When no live performers are around, music will be piped in, described as a mix of jazz, lounge and international tunes. Theme days such as Throwback Thursday, blues brunches and accompaniments for Wine Wednesdays are also being considered. And on the planning table, a proposal to bring dueling pianos to the stage at 8 p.m. on weekends.

Downtown Container Park [Rendering: Downtown Container Park]

The middle of the space is dominated by a interactive, 24-foot tall Swiss Family Robinson-style tree house and climbing space for kids. Sounds, misting effects, a telescope and electronic screens will keep them occupied. It will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and until 10 p.m. on weekends. Surrounding this activity will be regularly scheduled festival events including post Las Vegas 51s baseball or UNLV sports event festivities and seasonal celebrations like the San Gennaro festival.

But much of the daytime focus will be food, drinks and shopping. Here is the current master list scheduled for the first month in business.

Food & Beverage
Bin 702: 16 wines on tap, fresh salads and paninis. Participants in this venture will be opening O Face Donuts at the nearby John E. Carson Hotel redevelopment.

Big Ern's BBQ: Local favorites selling slow smoked barbequed meats with beer on tap, coleslaw and barbecue beans.

The Boozery: From Michael Cornthwaite, this "playful and rustic concept" is the only full bar in the park. Beer on tap ,wine by the glass, liquor and mixed drinks.

Pinches Tacos: The legendary, celebrity-approved casual Mexican food chain comes to Nevada.

Pork and Beans: Celebrity chef Kerry Simon and Hell's Kitchen season eight winner Nona Sivley will serve artisan sausage, beer and beans. They will also be working together on a new restaurant at the John E. Carson Hotel, a block away.

Las Vegas Kettle Corn: Kettle popped corn, air popped corn lemonade shakers and Las Vegas logoed novelties.

Sweet Spot Candy Shop: A second sweet treat outpost from a longtime Downtown business.

Sasa Pops: Gourmet frozen deserts from local favorites, SasaSweets.

CupKates: The Tivoli Village store expands downtown to include cupcakes, desserts and "children's dress up" teas parties.

Simply Pure: Raw vegan food and juices from Stacey Dougan, a former specialty vegan chef at Wynn.

Grid View

Retailers take up 13,257 square feet of the park

Specialty stores
Bolt Barbers: The first Nevada outpost for infamous Los Angeles barbershop. They occupy the most interesting building on the site, and maybe Downtown, in a former train box car and caboose behind the main stage.

A Hair Salon: While the name has changed in recent months, the concept of a full-service salon remains.

Jojo's Jerky: Selling jerky, nuts, spices, marinades and pickles.

Vapor Loft: Electronic cigarettes.

Trikke Academy: A dealer for Trikke, a three-wheeled scooter-like vehicle, who will also offer organized tours around the neighborhood.

Home furnishings
Alios: Quality light fixtures.

Art Box: Hand crafted products including jewelry and accessories.

BluMarble: Recycled beer and liquor bottles re-purposed into tumblers, jewelry and gifts.

Fresh Wata: Chairs, small tables, ottomans, robot salt and pepper shakers and novelties.

International Port Management Enterprise: A showroom for a seller of re-purposed shipping containers.

Art galleries
Blackbird Studios: Art and gifts

Disney Fine Arts: Disney fine art and animation collectibles.

GBX3: Art gallery, workspace and workshop space.

The High Points: Fine art photography

Lil' Art Bodega: Art Supplies, paintings, prints, vinyl & DIY toys.

Fashion
702 DTLV: Women's casual apparel, jewelry and accessories including "702 dtlv" branded items.

American Vagabond: Women's clothing including dresses, tops and accessories.

Boutiqueaholics: Clothing and accessories from national and international markets.

Crazy Legs: Women's leggings, tops, jewelry and handbags.

Gaby & Olivia: Jewelry and women's fashion accessories including scarves, hats, gloves, bags and sunglasses.

Jessica Galindo Fine Art & Leather Couture: Fine art on canvas, leather accessories, handbags, necklaces.

Vegas Apparel: Headware, apparel and accessories

Winky Designs: Watches, gifts, accessories and apparel.

Other office and administrative space will be assigned to third floor X Cubes.
· All Coverage of the Container Park [~ELV~]