Munchbar Chewed Up By Hakkasan Takeover

Munchbar, the casual eatery from chef Bradley Ogden's son Bryan Ogden and Pure Management executive Robert Frey, has shuttered, part of the forthcoming construction wave from the Hakkasan Group set to erase the memory of Pure Nightclub from Caesars Palace.

Opened in 2010, the casual spot was open daily until late, but an obvious lack of interest by the owners left a Facebook page left dormant for more than a year and a Twitter feed not updated since May 2011.

Once hoped to be a national brand, the Seattle outpost of Munchbar closed in 2013 after a man was shot and killed on property. Local press reported trouble at Munchbar had attracted more than 400 calls to the Bellevue Police Department since it opened in 2011. Their reputation was so bad, local residents and police attempted to prevent Robert Frey from gaining a future liquor license, citing him as "....unfit to possess, hold, control or manage a liquor license".

Frey was recently the CEO of the failed Goretorium project at Harmon Corner, which filed for bankruptcy protection July 1, 2013.

While the new Hakkasan nightclub is expected to take over the space, further down the corridor, a new 15,580-square-foot bar for the Caesars Race and Sports Book is also readying for construction, with a $1,585,246 proposed budget. No word yet if the Pussycat Dolls-themed gaming pit in front of Munchbar will still be sticking around.
· All Coverage of Pure Nightclub [~ELV~]
· All Coverage of Caesars Palace [~ELV~]
· All Coverage of Hakkasan [~ELV~]