LAS VEGAS -- The
Strips first exotic car dealership -- make that the Strips first
car dealership of any kind -- opened early last month in, of all
places, the Forum Shops at Caesars.
Its opening
preceded by 20 days the heralded April 28 debut of the
Ferrari-Maserati dealership located in the Wynn Las Vegas
Penske-Wynn Showroom.
At 34,000 square
feet, Exotic Cars at Caesars Palace is the largest tenant in the
shopping venue, and with more than 50 cars from around the world
displayed in its two-tiered space, the dealership is also the
worlds largest showroom of exotic cars.
Exotic Cars is
really three businesses in one, said Richard Weisman, Exotic Cars
CEO. It is an attraction, it is a car dealership, and it is a
retail store.
The difference
between Exotic Cars and its competition, he said, is that everyone
is welcome.
We dont say, You
cant take a picture. You cant get close to the cars. We created
this space to make everyone feel welcome, for everyone to come on
in and see the cars, get their picture taken in a Ferrari, play
with the toys.
One of the toys
that Weisman referred to was Caesars Raceway, a living-room-size
remote-control racetrack complete with six-inch-long
cars.
People can come
in, have fun with them, play with them, he said. And we do sell the
cars and the track.
In addition,
visitors can have their photos taken in one of two exotic cars or
on a custom motorcycle. The venue also includes real motorcycles
framed as though painted on canvas.
The dealership
will have about 50 cars on the floor, such as Ferrari, Aston
Martin, Lamborghini, Bentley, Rolls Royce, Panoz, Mercedes-Benz and
Porsche, and between 15 and 20 motorcycles in the mezzanine
area.
A walkway will
surround the space, enabling visitors to get close to the cars on
display; and along the railing every 20 feet or so will be a
built-in 15-inch touch screen that will provide information about
the vehicles, Weisman said.
Its designed to
be an interactive experience, he said.
And for those
actually interested in buying an exotic car, there are private
salons and a VIP lounge upstairs equipped with plasma-screen TVs
and leather sofas.
Exotic Cars at
Caesars Palace is open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. and on
Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. until midnight.
For more
information, call (702) 735-7700 or visit www.ecacp.com.
To contact
reporter Amy Baratta, send e-mail to [email protected].