The Forum Shops at Caesars

The Forum Shops at Caesars is an upscale shopping, dining, and entertainment complex connected to Caesars Palace in the Las Vegas metropolitan area. Although commonly associated with the Las Vegas Strip, the property is geographically located in Paradise, Nevada. Its architecture and visitor experience are built around an elaborate Roman theme, including marble finishes, classical statuary, fountains, a simulated sky ceiling that changes from daylight to night, and entertainment features designed to make the mall a destination rather than simply a collection of stores. The project was announced in 1987 by Caesars Palace and Los Angeles developer Sheldon Gordon's Gordon Company. The site, an approximately 8.4-acre parcel north of the resort, had previously been used for the unsuccessful Caesars Palace Grand Prix. Gordon and Caesars World had considered several redevelopment concepts before settling on a themed retail center. Melvin Simon & Associates, the predecessor of Simon Property Group, joined as co-developer. Construction began in November 1990, with Marnell Corrao Associates serving as architect and general contractor and Terry Dougall handling interior design. The first stores opened on May 1, 1992. The original complex contained approximately 240,000 square feet of leasable space and around 60 stores and restaurants. Its mix of luxury fashion, specialty retail, food, and theatrical attractions helped distinguish it from conventional shopping centers. Early tenants included Versace, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Victoria's Secret, and the Warner Bros. Studio Store. The mall's concept initially faced skepticism because Las Vegas had not traditionally been viewed as a major luxury-shopping destination, but the project became an important part of the Strip's evolution toward integrated entertainment, hospitality, dining, and retail. A major first expansion opened on August 29, 1997, adding approximately 276,000 square feet. The enlargement introduced additional international and designer retailers, a large FAO Schwarz toy store, more restaurants, and the Atlantis-themed fountain attraction. A further three-story expansion opened on October 22, 2004, adding approximately 175,000 square feet and 57 tenants. The project extended the mall toward Las Vegas Boulevard, replaced the original moving-walkway approach from the Strip, and added a skylight and spiral escalators. Simon Property Group bought the Gordon Company's remaining ownership interest for $174 million in 2003 and became the mall's full owner and operator. The completed complex has approximately 675,000 square feet of leasable tenant space, about 160 tenants, and a combination of luxury boutiques, fashion retailers, restaurants, specialty stores, and attractions. Major retail occupants mentioned over the property's history include Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, Fendi, Gucci, Tiffany & Co., De Beers, Celine, Carolina Herrera, Hugo Boss, Max Mara, and H&M. Restaurant tenants have included The Palm, Carmine's, Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab, Sushi Roku, Water Grill, and RPM Italian. Tenant composition has changed over time as retailers and restaurants opened, relocated, or closed. The Forum Shops has also used entertainment to drive foot traffic. Its original Festival Fountain presented a free hourly laser and animatronic-statue show featuring figures from Roman mythology. That attraction was redesigned in 1997 and discontinued in 2011. The Atlantis show, introduced with the 1997 expansion, uses animatronic figures, fire, water, and a large aquarium to stage a story about the fate of Atlantis; it received a major overhaul in 2013. A paid motion-simulator attraction, Race for Atlantis, operated from 1997 until 2004. The mall became known for exceptionally high sales productivity and was described as the highest-grossing mall in the United States by sales per square foot from the late 1990s until 2016. It has historically drawn a predominantly tourist clientele,…

The Forum Shops at Caesars developed from a late-1980s effort to replace an unsuccessful automobile-racing site beside Caesars Palace with a more commercially productive attraction. In April 1987, Caesars Palace announced plans for a shopping center north of the resort. Sheldon Gordon's Gordon Company was selected as the development partner after extensive planning with Caesars World. Melvin Simon & Associates joined as co-developer, while Marnell Corrao Associates designed and built the project and Terry Dougall created its interior environment. The developers treated the center as a form of themed entertainment. Rather than presenting a generic enclosed mall, they created a Roman-inspired setting intended to extend the Caesars Palace identity into retail. Marble, fountains, classical imagery, theatrical lighting, and a ceiling painted as a changing sky were combined with luxury stores and restaurants. The strategy was particularly significant for Las Vegas, where shopping had historically played a secondary role to casinos, shows, and hotels. Construction began in November 1990. The first phase opened gradually on May 1, 1992, with approximately 240,000 square feet of leasable space and roughly 60 tenants. Its early roster included major luxury and fashion names such as Versace, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and Victoria's Secret. The complex also opened with the Festival Fountain, an hourly attraction using lasers and animatronic representations of Roman deities. This mix of shopping and spectacle helped make the property a destination for visitors who might not otherwise have entered a traditional retail center. The mall's first expansion was announced in 1993 and opened on August 29, 1997. The approximately $65 million project added 276,000 square feet, around 35 additional stores and restaurants, and a second major entertainment installation centered on the Atlantis story. A 50,000-gallon aquarium and animatronic figures supported the fire-and-water show. The expansion also added a three-story FAO Schwarz store that became one of the mall's most recognizable attractions. A motion-simulator ride called Race for Atlantis opened later in 1997 and operated until 2004. A further expansion was proposed in 1998 but was delayed amid changes surrounding Caesars Palace ownership and management. Construction finally began in January 2003. That year, Simon Property Group agreed to buy the Gordon Company's remaining interest for $174 million, giving Simon full ownership and operating control. The $139 million expansion opened on October 22, 2004. Designed by KGA Architecture with Dougall again responsible for interiors, it added about 175,000 square feet and 57 tenants. The three-story addition reached toward Las Vegas Boulevard, replacing the original moving-walkway approach with a more direct street connection. It also introduced a skylight and spiral escalators developed and installed by Mitsubishi Electric. The expanded property helped The Forum Shops compete with newer themed retail developments on the Strip, including Grand Canal Shoppes and Desert Passage. Its tenant mix increasingly emphasized international luxury labels, jewelry, watches, restaurants, and specialty concepts. Entertainment remained part of the operating model, although individual attractions changed. The original Festival Fountain show was redesigned in 1997 and eventually ended in 2011, partly because the animatronics had become unreliable and their dialogue was difficult for visitors to understand. The Atlantis attraction was refurbished and reopened in 2013. The property also experienced disputes and legal scrutiny. In 2009, the EEOC sued Simon over alleged discriminatory treatment of four Hispanic janitors who had worked at the mall; the matter was settled in 2011 for $125,000. Separately, litigation involving the OPM nightclub and its successor Poetry concerned the club's tenancy, representations about its format, and access arrangements. The club's owner alleged that closing a principal entrance on busy nights created the impression that the venue was closed and reflected racial discrimination because the clientele was primarily African-American. The mall rejected the allegations, citing security concerns, and a judge dismissed the lawsuit. By the late 1990s, The Forum Shops had become one of the most productive shopping centers in the United States when measured by sales per square foot. It retained the reported national leadership position until 2016. The property marked its 25th anniversary in 2017 with a prominent LED sign at the Strip entrance. Its later history has been defined less by another major physical expansion than by tenant turnover, restaurant changes, attraction maintenance, and continued integration with the Caesars Palace resort. The Forum Shops remains an active luxury-oriented retail and dining destination operated by Simon Property Group.

• 2017

  25th anniversary entrance upgrade

  [1]The Forum Shops at Caesarsen.wikipedia.org

  A large LED sign was installed at the Strip-side entrance.

• 2011

  Festival Fountain show ends

  [1]The Forum Shops at Caesarsen.wikipedia.org

  The original Roman-mythology animatronic fountain show was discontinued and its statues removed.

• 2004

  Second major expansion opens

  [1]The Forum Shops at Caesarsen.wikipedia.org

  A three-story, approximately 175,000-square-foot expansion opened on October 22.

• 2003

  Simon consolidates ownership

  [1]The Forum Shops at Caesarsen.wikipedia.org

  Simon Property Group agreed to acquire The Gordon Company's remaining stake for $174 million.

• 1997

  First expansion opens

  [1]The Forum Shops at Caesarsen.wikipedia.org

  The first major expansion added approximately 276,000 square feet and introduced the Atlantis show and FAO Schwarz.

• 1992

  Initial phase opens

  [1]The Forum Shops at Caesarsen.wikipedia.org

  The first stores and restaurants opened on May 1 with approximately 240,000 square feet of leasable space.

• 1990

  Construction begins

  [1]The Forum Shops at Caesarsen.wikipedia.org

  Construction started in November under the development partnership involving The Gordon Company and Melvin Simon & Associates.

• 1987

  Shopping-center project announced

  [1]The Forum Shops at Caesarsen.wikipedia.org

  Caesars Palace announced plans for a Roman-themed shopping center on land formerly used for the Caesars Palace Grand Prix.

A theatrical luxury-shopping destination that combines designer retail, restaurants, architecture, and free attractions within the Caesars Palace resort environment.

• Retail · 1992

  Luxury designer retail

  The mall's core offering is a concentration of luxury and premium retailers spanning fashion, leather goods, jewelry, watches, beauty, and accessories. The historical tenant roster has included brands such as Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Versace, Fendi, Celine, Christian Dior, Tiffany & Co., De Beers, Carolina Herrera, Hugo Boss, and Max Mara. Tenant availability changes over time.

• Entertainment attraction · 1997

  Atlantis Show

  A free fountain and animatronic show depicting a conflict among King Atlas and his children over control of Atlantis. The production combines fire, water, lighting, music, animatronic figures, and a large aquarium. It received a substantial makeover and reopened in 2013.

• Entertainment attraction · 1992

  Festival Fountain

  The original mall attraction used lasers and animatronic figures representing Roman deities including Apollo, Bacchus, Plutus, and Venus. It was redesigned in 1997 and discontinued in 2011, although the fountain structure remains.

• Restaurants · 1992

  Destination dining

  Restaurants have been an important part of the center's visitor proposition, ranging from steak and seafood to Italian, Japanese, and contemporary dining. Historical and later occupants have included The Palm, Carmine's, Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab, Sushi Roku, Water Grill, and RPM Italian.

• 2009

  EEOC employment-discrimination case

  The EEOC alleged that four Hispanic janitors had experienced discriminatory treatment at the mall. Simon Property Group agreed to a $125,000 settlement in 2011.

  Source

• 2007

  OPM and Poetry access-discrimination dispute

  A nightclub operator alleged that closing a main entrance on Friday and Saturday nights made the venue appear closed and amounted to racial discrimination because its clientele was primarily African-American. The mall cited security concerns and denied the allegation; a judge dismissed the lawsuit.

  Source

Read more

• 201725th Anniversary Presentation

  Las Vegas

  The property marked its 25th anniversary with a prominent new LED sign at the Strip-side entrance, reinforcing the mall's visual presence for arriving visitors.

  Outcome. The sign became part of the property's entrance identity.

  Source

• 2013

  Atlantis show makeoverOther

  Background

  The Atlantis attraction remained a key visitor feature but required an updated presentation.

  Action taken

  The show was closed for four months and refurbished with refreshed animatronics and costumes.

  Aftermath

  The attraction reopened as a renewed centerpiece of the mall's entertainment program.

  Source

• 2004

  Three-story expansion opensGeneration change

  Background

  The mall faced competition from newer themed retail destinations on the Las Vegas Strip, including Grand Canal Shoppes and Desert Passage.

  Action taken

  Simon opened a $139 million, approximately 175,000-square-foot expansion with new tenants, restaurants, a Strip-side connection, a skylight, and spiral escalators.

  Aftermath

  The enlarged property reached approximately 675,000 square feet of leasable space and strengthened its position as a major destination mall.

  Expansion cost. $139 million (2004)

  Source

• 2003

  Simon buys Gordon Company's ownership interestM&A

  Background

  The Forum Shops had been developed through a partnership involving The Gordon Company and Melvin Simon & Associates. Ownership and operating decisions became increasingly centered on Simon.

  Action taken

  Simon Property Group agreed to acquire the Gordon Company's remaining stake for $174 million and assumed consolidated ownership and operating control.

  Aftermath

  Simon continued to operate the mall and proceeded with the large expansion that opened in 2004.

  Acquisition price. $174 million (2003)

  Source

• 2017

  25th-anniversary LED entrance sign installed[1]The Forum Shops at Caesarsen.wikipedia.org

  Campaign

  A large LED sign was added at the Strip-side entrance as part of the mall's 25th-anniversary presentation.

• 2013

  Atlantis attraction receives first major overhaul[1]The Forum Shops at Caesarsen.wikipedia.org

  Product generation

  The Atlantis fountain show reopened after a four-month makeover that refreshed its animatronic figures, costumes, and presentation.

• 2004

  Three-story expansion opens[1]The Forum Shops at Caesarsen.wikipedia.org

  Product generation

  The $139 million expansion added approximately 175,000 square feet, new designer stores and restaurants, and a direct extension toward the Strip.

• 2003

  Simon Property Group acquires Gordon Company stake[1]The Forum Shops at Caesarsen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Simon agreed to purchase the Gordon Company's remaining ownership interest, consolidating ownership and operational control of the mall.

• 1997

  First major Forum Shops expansion opens[1]The Forum Shops at Caesarsen.wikipedia.org

  Product generation

  A large expansion added approximately 276,000 square feet, new retailers and restaurants, the Atlantis attraction, and a major FAO Schwarz store.

• 1992

  The Forum Shops opens its first stores[1]The Forum Shops at Caesarsen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The themed retail complex began opening stores and restaurants on May 1, establishing a new luxury-shopping destination connected to Caesars Palace.

1. 1The Forum Shops at Caesarsen.wikipedia.org
2. 2The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace - Simon Property Groupsimon.com