For a city that love nostalgia, Las Vegas has very little for its building and history. Once something no longer works on the Las Vegas Strip, it rarely lasts very long.
That's why countless resort casinos have been imploded and why new owners never hesitate to make massive changes when they buy a property. We're seeing that now with the end of the Bally's name on the Strip, as Caesars Entertainment (CZR) has rebranded that property as The Horseshoe, a name that's actually a convenient nod to Las Vegas nostalgia.
DON'T MISS: Las Vegas Strip Casino Icon Entering Its Final Days
We will also soon see it as in the next year or two, Bally's (BALY), which now owns the Tropicana, will eventually put its name on that property. In addition, new Mirage owner Hard Rock International has shown no nostalgia for that resort's iconic Volcano, which will close (maybe very soon) to make way for a new take on the company's Guitar Hotel.
Las Vegas exploits nostalgia when it can and that was actually what legendary Strip theater Mosaic on the Strip did very well. That venue hosted tribute shows to some of the biggest names in music both alive and dead -- Billy Joel, Elton John, Michael Jackson, as well as a variety of "only-in-Las Vegas shows including the Aussie Heat male "dancer" show, burlesque performances, and a one-woman female rock tribute show.
Now, Mosaic on the Strip has gone from being closed to now being no more.
Image source: Gareth Cattermole/Getty
A Loss of Unique Las Vegas Strip Shows
Mosaic on the Strip closed abruptly in July when its operator, SPR & Promotions Dean Coleman smelled burning wires. Fixing the problem would have been expensive and Coleman had already decided that the venue was going to close toward the end of 2022.
That brought about the abrupt demise of the three shows playing at the venue in its final days -- "M.J. The Evolution," Elyzabeth Diaga’s “Queens of Rock,” and a burlesque revue “Lady Like.” At the time of the very abrupt closing, producers for all three shows said they planned to find new homes. Only one has done that.
After a two-year run on the Las Vegas Strip and a very successful winter tour in in Quebec, "Queens of Rock is back in Las Vegas at the wonderful Orleans Showroom of the Orleans Hotel and Casino," according to a website for the production
Neither of the other two shows have found a home although they both have somewhat active websites.
The End Of An Era On the Las Vegas Strip
Mosaic on the Strip did not close because it had expensive electrical problems, that situation simply closed the venue faster. It shut down because the land it sits on was going to be developed into a retail property. Now, the performance venue, which used to be in a strip mall across the Street from Park MGM has been demolished as has a Walgreen's and Fatburger that also sat on the property.
"The end was initiated by property owner Gindi Capital, which is developing a three-story retail complex of about 300,000 square feet on the parcel. Restaurants, retail, bars, supper clubs and outdoor entertainment is planned. The demolition is about complete. Mosaic’s structure was reportedly wiped out a couple of weeks ago," the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.
Ultimately, this might be another failure that can be blamed on covid. Coleman's group took over the venue just before the pandemic hit, which limited it to 10% of its 500-seat capacity for months.
Gindi Capital also operates the massive Showcase Mall on the Las Vegas Strip. That property added a huge expansion in 2022, bringing the mall to nearly 500,000 square feet.
"The 155,000-square-foot phase includes the addition of a 50,000-square-foot Burlington and a 20,000-square-foot Target. Gindi Capital plans to add a rooftop bar and restaurant 75 feet above street level, offering views of the Las Vegas Strip," the company shared on its website.
