Here Come the Big, Big Changes to Fashion Show Mall

Habitually tight-lipped General Growth Properties is still keeping quiet about the multi-million dollar, year-long upgrades to the Fashion Show mall, but new details are starting to leak.

Already occupying 2 million square feet of mega-mall, an additional 22,000 square feet of new retail and dining is being dramatically created on the Strip-facing plaza. Five restaurants are on the way, three full-service with outdoor dining terraces and two "bistro-sized venues" with outdoor patios.

When Eater Vegas first revealed the Fashion Show upgrades in May 2014, a representative promised the future tenants were "truly fantastic restaurants."

The mall makeover isn't just confined to the front plaza. Shuttered since spring of 2013, the former Bloomingdale's Home Store will be replaced by the yet-to-be announced Dick’s Sporting Goods. Their two-level store will take over 82,000 square feet of the available 99,357-square-foot empty space. Prominent signage and a new entrance on the Spring Mountain Road side of the mall are forthcoming.

Kona Grill. Photo: Bradley Martin

The first new restaurant to arrive will be Kona Grill, slotting into the vacant 12,205-square-foot former Zara store on the interior lower level. Kona Grill is already a fixture at Boca Park and is known for their very popular happy hour program. With more than 30 locations nationwide, the cocktail-centric Kona Grill describes itself as serving a "diverse selection of modern American appetizers and entrees and an extensive selection of award-winning sushi."

Kona Grill's arrival creates an instant rivalry with long-time mall tenant Ra Sushi, situated a few steps away. The 27-location Ra Sushi franchise describes itself as offering "lively music, a vibrant crowd, inventive cocktails and the best sushi this side of Tokyo." In July of last year, this location was temporarily shut down by the SNHD.

Fashion Show Mall. Photo: Bradley Martin

While unclear if Kona Grill is considered one of the three principal new restaurants, its size appears much larger than their proposed footprints. New restaurants have been allocated 5,882, 4,988 and 2,772 square feet to make an impression on the plaza.

Fashion Show Mall rendering. General Growth Properties

Also taking shape, an upper-level, oval-roofed Cloud Bar offering views of the Strip through its curved glass walls. The entire overhaul is on target for a winter 2015 debut.