Boom! $5 Million Budget To Create Zuma at Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas

Millions of dollars are flowing at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas as the resort continues to invest in a wave of upgrades ahead of its sixth birthday this December.

Joining the $44 million of new additions to the top of East Tower, creating 12 suites, eight villas and a private gaming salon, no money is being spared in remodeling the dining and drinking scenes on the lower floors.

Latest paperwork has allocated a stunning, estimated $5 million in construction costs to convert former P3 Studio art gallery into Zuma, an "elegant and sophisticated" izakaya, featuring a sushi counter and a robata grill. The Japanese restaurant chain from Rainer Becker operates 11 international locations, spread around the world from Bangkok to London. The Las Vegas design will be created by Noriyoshi Muramatsu of Studio Glitt.

Needing to add a kitchen and access to their new second=floor administrative space, Zuma will occupy 7,990 square feet. By comparison, direct neighbor Greek restaurant Estiatorio Milos is 12,000 square feet in size.

Zuma completed the demolition process and can now concentrate on the remodel, still promising a late 2016 debut. The timetable directly affects another dining neighbor, Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill from Eric and Bruce Bromberg who need to wait for Zuma's arrival before they close Blue Ribbon and re-launch with a yet-to-be announced, non-Japanese focused project.

One floor down, permits were finally filed late last month for the demolition of the former All Saints corner retail spot, set to host chefs David Chang's Momofuku and Christina Tosi's Milk Bar. Both projects are scheduled for another late 2016 debut.

And on the ground floor, work continues on the estimated $960,000 upgrade of the casino level of the Chandelier bar. Keeping their gaming machines, the 3,305-square-foot footprint is rumored to be stretching further onto the casino floor. Cosmopolitan president and CEO Bill McBeath has already revealed to the Las Vegas Sun the bar remodel will be unveiled this August.