Movida Movin to Vegas

Sammy Sass may no longer (or never been) involved with Noah and Jason's upcoming Lavo restaurant and nightclub at the Palazzo, but our LB was correct in Sammy's interest in Vegas. We just got word that Sass will be opening a branch of his London club Movida in the Palazzo. This follows the current Vegas strategy of trying to lure big spenders from Europe as the American economy hits the shitter. Especially with the slowdown in tourism and spending in Vegas. We always say the more the merrier, but Lavo and Movida going head-to-head? This should be interesting.

Blogging For a Flogging: Samy Sass Stays Out

Looks like the Flogging can happen all the way out in the desert. A Little Birdy checks in to set the record straight about Lavo, saying "You recently mentioned that Sammy Sass was partnering with Noah and Jason on their new Vegas project Lavo. He actually has nothing to do with the project." Hmmm, we guess our original source was off, because this LB would certainly know. Oh well, no one is perfect. Consider ourselves corrected and in some pain.

Noah and Jason Get Sassy

A bit of news from the desert. We had previously heard rumors of another mega project from Noah and Jason at the new Palazzo in Las Vegas. Originally, it seemed that they would try to bringing the Stanton Social concept out west with Marc Packer and Rich Wolf and then attach a mega-club and pool, just like their ridiculously successful Tao operation. Apparently, these plans have been scrapped for something much grander and dare we say, international. We'll let our Little Birdy tell you the rest:

A friend in Monaco is telling me that Samy Sass, from Sass Cafe in Monaco famed is partnering with Noah and Jason to do a Sass Cafe concept in Vegas that is restaurant, lounge, club, pool, etc. This would be in line with comments they have made in the Vegas press about opening a 'vibe dining' concept. Further, the word out of London is that the guys from Mo*vida (the hottest club in London that ripped off the name from NY) are doing something in Vegas, but nobody knows where. Turns out Samy is partners with them in Mo*vida. So, my conclusion is Noah and Jason are up to something big with some major operators from Monaco and Vegas. Not just big, but so big that there is a complete gag order on the whole thing and no info available anywhere.

Well, except for right here of course. So much for your gag order fellas. This partnership represents globalization at its finest, and follows Strategic Group's process of taking on partners to minimize risk and keep their capital contribution to a minimum. Smart move, especially with the tightening of the credit markets and weak dollar, to bring in some global players who have shied away from Vegas in the past. Will it work? Only time will tell.