Forum Shops
The mall has 675,000 sq ft (62,700 m) and approximately 160 tenants, including various restaurants. It has also offered several shows featuring animatronic statues. Until 2016, the Forum Shops was the highest grossing mall in the U.S., measured in terms of sales per square foot.
History
In April 1987, Caesars Palace announced plans to add a shopping center north of the resort, to be known as the Forum at Caesars. It would be developed by Los Angeles businessman Sheldon Gordon through The Gordon Company. Gordon and Caesars World had spent more than two years planning the project prior to its announcement. The 8.4-acre property had previously been used for the unsuccessful Caesars Palace Grand Prix. Henry Gluck, chairman of Caesars World, reviewed numerous options for redeveloping the site. The idea to replace the racetrack with a shopping mall was devised by Gordon, a longtime friend of Gluck.
Marnell Corrao Associates designed the mall project and worked as general contractor, while Terry Dougall served as interior designer. Melvin Simon & Associates (later Simon Property Group) joined as co-developer, with construction starting in November 1990. Caesars leased the mall land to its developers, which would manage operations, and Caesars would also receive a portion of the tenant rents.
Stores at the Forum Shops began gradually opening on May 1, 1992. In addition to retail and restaurants, the mall also included a show featuring animatronic statues. Gordon said, "Every city has a Rodeo Drive or Madison Avenue, but not Las Vegas. I think this is the best thing that I've ever done". Local developer Irwin Molasky praised the project, stating that it "takes us light years into the future" while calling it "an adult Disneyland". The Forum Shops helped transform Las Vegas into a destination city for shoppers. Before its opening, the idea of a themed retail mall on the Las Vegas Strip had been met with some skepticism. Another retail center, Fashion Show Mall, had opened on the Strip in 1981. However, it lacked the theme and entertainment features offered at the Forum Shops.
A $65 million expansion was announced in November 1993. It eventually opened on August 29, 1997. Marnell and Dougall returned to design the addition.
A third expansion was announced in 1998. However, the project was delayed by Starwood Hotels's sale of Caesars Palace to Park Place Entertainment, a deal that was finalized at the end of 1999. Construction was expected to begin by early 2001, but this was further delayed by leadership changes within Park Place. Meanwhile, Gordon felt that he was being left out of decisions made by Simon Property Group regarding the mall. Construction on the three-story expansion eventually began in January 2003. A few months later, Simon agreed to buy out Gordon's ownership stake in the mall for $174 million. Simon also operates the mall.
The $139 million expansion opened on October 22, 2004. It was designed by KGA Architecture, while Dougall again returned as interior designer. Perini Building Company was the general contractor. The expansion helped the Forum Shops stay competitive against newer malls on the Strip, including the Grand Canal Shoppes and Desert Passage.
In 2009, Simon was sued by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), which alleged that four Hispanic janitors at the Forum Shops were subjected to discriminatory treatment a few years earlier. With its lawsuit, the EEOC aimed to prevent such treatment in the future and also sought monetary damages for the janitors, who had since stopped working at the mall. In 2011, Simon agreed to settle the case for $125,000.
Features
Like Caesars Palace, a Roman theme is used throughout the Forum Shops. The mall features an abundance of marble, and several fountains are located inside and out. The interior includes sky-painted ceilings which change from day to night.
The Forum Shops opened with 240,000 sq ft (22,000 m) of leasable space, and included approximately 60 tenants consisting of stores and restaurants. The 1997 expansion added 276,000 sq ft (25,600 m), and included 35 stores and restaurants. The 2004 expansion added 175,000 sq ft (16,300 m). The project added 57 tenants, including stores and restaurants.