Downtown Container Park is Now Open

Las Vegas Downtown Container Park with trendy boutiques and restaurants has now been open a few weeks.  We've stopped in a few times and it seems to be off to a great start.  As we walked out on Fremont St after our first visit, another couple asked what we thought.  Only problem we could see was that it might be a little too small.  They agreed.

The stores are not the big box deals that anchor most shopping malls.  The only "brand" we found was the Mickey Mouse store.   The park is built around a large play ground which seems to be attracting families.  We can understand why Mickey would sign a lease with the Park.

On the ground level, we find a variety of eateries.  We've tried Pinches Tacos and loved them, authentic, flavorful & healthy.  pork & beans was the brain child of chef Kerry Simon.  We haven't checked that one out yet but have heard it's awesome.  Same for Big Ern's BBQ.  The big reason we haven't tried the BBQ yet is they tend to have long lines when we've been there.  We love the salads, panini and wine at Bin 702.  And the Boozery is a great spot to stop for a beer and leave the hubby watching the game on their big screen while I go explore the shops.  The eateries all have a limited number of tables for indoor dining on cooler days, but on nice days we prefer the patio and rooftop eating areas.  The rooftops offer great views of downtown's historic buildings like the El Cortez.

All of this in discarded cargo containers.  The same metal boxes you see unloaded off freighters at our major shipping ports.  Or you watch go by on freight trains when stuck at a railroad crossing.  On the second level, the International Port Management Enterprise (IPME) has a lounge.  As their website mentions, they retail containers on the entire West Coast.  If the Downtown Container Park inspires you to create your own living/work space in a recycled cargo container, these are the folks who can help you build it.

The Downtown Container Park website, lists all the current tenants.  Most of the boutiques are on the second and third level with walk ways that meander around the complex.  Along the way, there are seating areas to relax and enjoy our sunny days.

At the end of the complex is a bandstand.  We've heard orchestras and a swing band so far.  When the live music isn't going, the outdoor sound system provides background music.  The bandstand is a great addition to the complex.  We've noticed it has drawn many locals in from the suburbs, especially when their child is playing in the orchestra.  And at night time, it's amusing to watch the fire breathing ant that greets visitors.  In addition to the flames, the ant makes some rather interesting sound affects, more like a cow than an ant.

This new complex is the first of many projects that are planned for the Downtown area.  It's part of the vision that Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh has for revitalizing our downtown.  On the Downtown Project's website, the reason for using containers is spelled out.    Most urban cities, like Detroit, are filled with vacant, crumbling buildings that need to be rehabbed.  Vegas doesn't have those.  Cargo containers are a great solution for bringing the area to life without having to wait years for high rise buildings to be completed.  And on our last visit, we noticed the lot across the street is filled with Airstream RVs and the signs announce that it's a "construction zone for Downtown Container Park".  We look forward to seeing it expand.

This update on Downtown is courtesy of Debbie Drummond, a full time Realtor with over 10 years experience in Las Vegas.  To search for homes visit LVHomePro.com.  For information on Las Vegas Real Estate, call (702)354-6900 or email [email protected].