The world learned on March 15, 2024 about the looming closure of Margaritaville at Flamingo.
The actual closing date has been elusive, but now we know: This kitschy fixture on the Las Vegas Strip since 2003 closes May 30, 2024, according to a rep of the venue.
Cue the tropical rock trombone.
It’s no exaggeration to say millions of people have eaten passable fare and consumed copious amounts of liquor at Margaritaville over the years.
We did a metric ass-ton of reflecting in our original story about Margaritaville closing, so please don’t make us do it again.
The Margaritaville brand has been on the wane for some time now, and the lease at Flamingo is up. Caesars Entertainment is ready to welcome another venue, although no replacement has been announced yet.
Why is Caesars ready for a new partner? Example: Hell’s Kitchen makes about eight times the revenue for Caesars Entertainment as Margaritaville. Or, in corporate speak, “Don’t let the door hit you.”
Odds are good the new restaurant or lounge will have a celebrity chef’s name on it, if recent developments at Flamingo are any indication.
A new Gordon Ramsay Burger is being built in the former Bird Bar space at Flamingo and the shuttered poker room will soon be home to Pinky’s by Vanderpump, no relation to Pinky Ring, the Bruno Mars lounge at Bellagio.
Construction has also started on a Cuban restaurant, Havana 1957.
The only major food group missing at Flamingo is Italian, so let’s get on that, please. Bonanno’s New York Pizzeria is fine when you’re drunk, but let’s do something more robust, maybe with Buddy Valastro (his pizzeria is headed to Caesars Palace’s food hall soon) or Bobby Flay (his Amalfi seems to be doing well at Caesars) or Giada De Laurentiis, whose Giada’s continues to make bank at Cromwell.
Margaritaville has rested on its laurels and location for too long. We can all respectfully pour one out for her impressive run, but everyone’s ready to see what’s next.