Date: October 17, 2023, 12:51h. 

Last Updated: October 17, 2023, 12:51h.

A historic building on Las Vegas’ Historic Westside, previously the Tokyo Casino and originally the Town Tavern, was devastated in a fire on Sunday night.

Back in April, Beverly Hills developer Shlomo Meiri introduced plans for a 60-story casino resort and residential complex called Harlem Nights. However, due to a request from the FAA, the hotel plans were reduced to 34 stories. Unfortunately, the fire has now caused the Town Tavern building to be completely destroyed.

“It’s more complicated because now there’s no building to refinance, but it shouldn’t change the timing, as long as the city will work together with me to bring the community together and do something,” Meiri told KVVU-TV.

Although no approvals have been obtained for Harlem Nights, Meiri remains optimistic about completing his project within the next five years.

The Town Tavern’s Rich History

Originally opening in July 1955, the Town Tavern quickly became a prominent night club and casino on the Las Vegas Strip. It gained attention as a hub for African-American culture before the desegregation of the strip in 1960.

The nearby Moulin Rouge, the nation’s first fully desegregated casino hotel, initially overshadowed the Town Tavern. However, the Town Tavern eventually gained recognition for its legendary performers, including Louis Armstrong and the Ink Spots. Famous guests like Cab Calloway, Chubby Checker, Nat King Cole, and Sammy Davis Jr. were also regulars at the club.

The Town Tavern underwent several name changes and closures over the years. The building finally collapsed in 2003, leading to its designation as unsafe and its subsequent boarding up by the city of Las Vegas in 2010.