Revitalization of downtown likely to follow Grand debut

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ASSOCIATED PRESS
Revelers danced to the music played by DJ Afrojack inside the XS nightclub in Las Vegas on Jan. 20. A poll conducted this year by the national gambling lobby found that 26 percent of casino-goers now eschew wagering

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With the Downtown Grand poised to debut at the end of the month, moves are being made in anticipation of a rejuvenated downtown Las Vegas.

The owners of the D casino have purchased the original Clark County Courthouse at auction for $10 million. While no firm plans have been announced, the building’s location across the street from the D will likely allow for a future expansion of the resort after the old courthouse, built in 1905, is razed.

It’s also been announced that the hotel at the Gold Spike — formerly a casino and now a restaurant and bar — will be converted into employee housing for the about-to-open Zappos headquarters. A "pedestrian plaza" there that will be used for special events has also been approved.

Meanwhile the Downtown Grand has confirmed that it will open Oct. 27, with the official grand opening taking place Nov. 12.

» Hot clubs: According to the trade publication Nightclub & Bar, Las Vegas now claims 21 of the 100 most profitable nightclubs in the U.S., including all of the Top 10 spots.

The seven Sin City nightclubs bring in more than $25 million a year (and they need to, with DJ salaries now regularly registering in the millions for the top crowd-pullers).

» Free taxi: Take a cab to Ellis Island and show your receipt to get a full reimbursement of up to $20 in slot free-play.

They round it up to the nearest $5, so you can actually come out ahead on this deal. Take a ride and check out EI’s awesome 24/7 steak special for $7.99-$9.99 (you can get the lower price by joining the players club and playing $1 in a slot machine).

Question: Will the issuance of the new $100 bill cause problems for the casinos or the customers who try to exchange them?

Answer: There will be some glitches, most likely with bill validators on slots. Most casinos have indicated that they’re either in the process of, or will soon be, updating their validators to accept the new bills. For now a good strategy is to keep some old bills handy.

For more information about Las Vegas shows, buffets, coupons and good deals, go to www.LasVegasAdvisor.com.