Updating Pawn Plaza and Another New Downtown Container Park

One downtown container park nears completion, while another is on its way. Pawn Stars honcho Rick Harrison's vision of creating a dining and retail destination on the parking lot of his Gold & Silver Pawn Shop is almost a reality. A shading canopy is now in place, the elevator is being installed and new, approved signage is on its way.

Pawn Plaza: Photo - Bradley Martin

An 18-inch LED marquee sign will wrap around the Las Vegas Boulevard-facing side of the Plaza and a diamond accented blade sign will jut out from the top floor of Rick's Rollin Smoke BBQ & Tavern. Above the barbecue joint's front entrance, a large video screen will show clips from the Pawn Stars TV show to guests in the parking lot and visitors waiting on line to enter the original pawn shop.

Shell construction is "almost done," Harrison told the City Council this week and the project is looking at a period from the end of July through October to fill the place with tenants.

Joining the Pawn Stars-themed bar will be local favorites Rollin' Smoke BBQ, plus Smoke's Poutinerie and Rita's Italian Ice. Without naming names, Harrison also revealed the rest of the Plaza is "almost completely rented out."

Arts District Container Store Front: Photo - Bradley Martin

As the Pawn Plaza rises, over at the corner of Hoover and South Casino Center, a smaller experiment hopes to drop in by the end of the year. The Arts District Container Store Front is now seeking tenants to spruce up a blighted area, currently best known for its graffiti.

Arts District Container Store Front: Photo - Bradley Martin

Located diagonally across from the Newport Lofts, this entire block is owned by Kevin Plencner and his Oak Brook Realty and Investments, who also owns the downtown parking garage and building that will eventually host the quirky Jury Room Bar.

Pleckner once touted multi-million dollar plans to turn this block into a mid-rise housing and commercial hub. His shipping container project is looking for occupants suitable for a more modest 1,500 square feet and available for an October completion date.