Brian Malarkey's Herringbone Is Taking Over The Gold Lounge

That $4.2 million renovation of Gold Boutique Nightclub & Lounge at Aria now has a tenant. Gold shuttered in May to make way for an expensive new replacement for the former Cirque du Soleil joint venture with the former Light Group that has an Elvis Presley theme. Now Hakkasan Group owns the 10,488-square-foot space.

Sources close to the project says Brian Malarkey, the former Top Chef contestant and The Taste host and judge, is bringing Herringbone, his “fish meats field” restaurant, to the space. Herringbone already has locations in La Jolla, Santa Monica and Los Angeles. Malarkey’s cowboy-themed Searsucker opened at Caesars Palace in March.

Part of the upgrades in the future Herringbone space include a new bar and exterior patio, but the most dramatic change will be the addition of a new 91-square-foot decorative water feature. Hakkasan Group set aside $160,424 to install that forthcoming centerpiece. Tentative plans calls for an opening by the end of the year.  

Last December Hakkasan Group snapped up The Light Group's nightlife properties for $36 million.

In other rumors, the shuttered Haze Nightclub is supposedly turning into Jewel and may be open in time for New Year’s Eve, although that timeline is, well, hazy.