Las Vegas's Trader Vic's To Close

Most people in Las Vegas probably were surprised to hear of Trader Vic's closing since they were not likely to have been aware of Trader Vic's in the first place. When it opened in 2007, it was the only one in Nevada. The restaurant was part of Planet Hollywood's Miracle Mile shops and was located on the Las Vegas strip. The outdoor patio was the perfect place to "people watch" because it overlooked the busy strip sidewalk. The patio had a panoramic view of the Bellagio Fountains, the Eiffel Tower and City Center. It was a great place to take visitors.

The restaurant was a pet project of Doc Wiener. Doc had earlier successes when he teamed up with Robert Frey to develop nightclubs such as Coyote Ugly at the New York-New York, Pure at Caesars Palace, and Tangerine at Treasure Island.

Trader Vic's food received mixed reviews, some fawning and others awful. Trader Vic's never achieved the buzz that other nightclubs/restaurants did. Was it management? Was it the concept? Was it its location in Planet Hollywood? Those are the questions the next restaurant/nightclub developer will have to determine to be successful.

John Laub is the President of the CEO-CFO Group.

1. "Vegas Trader Vic's Will Soon Close. Restaurant Opened In 2007 At Miracle Mile Shops."
Fox5vegas.com June 3, 2009.

2. "It's No Ordinary Trader Vic's That's Coming to Las Vegas." John Laub. The CEO-CFO Group. September 2007.

3. Trader Vic's Reviews. Trip Advisor.