Just a few days before its soft launch in late November, construction workers rushed around downtown Las Vegas' Container Park, moving furniture, cleaning up vacant shops and tapping away on a few final projects.
Kim Schaefer, communications coordinator for the Downtown Project, pointed out where various retailers and restaurants would be housed among the 31 shipping containers and 43 Xtreme Cubes that make up the city's newest shopping, entertainment and community area — a gallery here, a fashion boutique there, a storefront for a caterer who has never had a physical location before.
In all, more than 30 owner-operated retail and dining venues will make their homes in the Container Park, located on the corner of Fremont and Seventh streets.
Funded by the Downtown Project, downtown Las Vegas' revitalization organization privately funded by Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh, the Container Park is intended to serve as both a retail and dining complex for visitors and locals as well as a supportive network for local business owners.
"We really think of the park as a small-business incubator, where people can come, grow their businesses and possibly move into a larger space somewhere else after they've grown their businesses here," Schaefer said. "It's got a tech incubator feel in the fact that everyone here is a new small-business owner. They can work together, support each other. We really want to help these folks be successful."
Jessica Galindo, a leather designer and artist, is one of the Container Park's retailers.
"Being part of this renaissance, one of the first to be in this big joint effort of growth, is very exciting," she said.
In addition to retail and dining spaces, the Container Park has an outdoor performance area, which will be used for programming throughout the day. A multi-level play area in the center consists of a dizzying array of slides and a Neos Playworld System, which combines physical movement and electronic gaming.
Near the entrance, a 40-foot praying mantis greets visitors, and the Catalyst Dome, also near the entrance, serves as an entertainment venue.
The all-encompassing complex has a little bit of something for everyone, and that's the point. People living in Las Vegas will likely appreciate the Container Park as a place to hang out with family and friends, while visitors now have easy access to the "local" vibe of the city, which can be difficult to find.
"We really think of this as a backyard barbecue, where parents can sit, have a glass of wine, visit with their friends while their kids play in a safe environment," Schaefer said. "We think this location is going to be a game changer for the work we're doing downtown to attract more and more people to come down here."
The Container Park will be open Sundays through Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m.