Days Are Numbered for Señor Frog’s and Yacht Club at TI

By Scott Roeben, on November 19 2024
3 min read 6 comments
Las Vegas Las Vegas Restaurants

The end draweth nigh for a longtime fixture at TI, Señor Frog’s.

The money-losing restaurant’s space is available for lease, which signals its impending demise.

In other words, if you’re going to visit, do so before it croaks. Please, we are not wasting our best jokes on a marginally-interesting story like this.

It’s difficult being an immigrant in the current political climate.

Señor Frog’s is a chain started in 1971 by Jesus Humberto “Chuy” Juarez and Carlos Anderson. The original Señor Frog’s was in Mazatlan, Mexico.

The owner, Grupo Anderson’s, is based in Cancun, Mexico and has a ton of brands, most liquor-driven with some “authentic” Mexican food thrown into the mix.

Grupo Anderson’s has another restaurant in Las Vegas, Carlos’n Charlie’s at Flamingo.

Señor Frog’s came to The Strip on May 5, 2012.

Unlike Carlos’n Charlie’s, Señor Frog’s has never been able to parlay its party atmosphere into profitability, so it’s time to say adios. Its month-to-month lease could end at any time.

Ultimately, the Señor Frog’s vibe isn’t all that special in Las Vegas. It’s a hit with tourists to Mexico, but in Las Vegas, there are rowdy vibe opportunities galore, often  at restaurants with much better food (and at cooler casinos than the aging TI).

In Las Vegas, “loud” is the new “fun,” so Señor Frog’s is often lost in the shuffle.

Señor Frog’s sits right on the pirate cove at TI, and it was never the same after the plug was pulled on the “Sirens of TI” show, which drew large crowds to the front of Treasure Island. They didn’t gamble, but many drank.

Visual metaphor of the day.

Another space for lease at TI is a restaurant called Las Vegas Yacht Club. There’s a reason you haven’t heard about it. (Note: This Yacht Club should not be confused with Pier 17 Yacht Club, the speakeasy lounge at “Absinthe.” That’s still going strong.)

Las Vegas Yacht Club opened in Nov. 2023 and was previously Seafood Shack. Let’s just say this isn’t prime real estate at TI.

We’d say it’s forgettable, but you have to know something to forget it.

Both these spaces are being shopped by Logic Commercial Real Estate, the same company that’s done several deals for Tony Hsieh properties downtown.

TI is roughly the shape of the track for the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix. The difference is people like having TI on The Strip.

We haven’t seen a lot of cases where spaces are up for lease before the current business closes, but we are not a commercial real estate expert.

Anticipate an announcement of the closure of Señor Frog’s and Las Vegas Yacht Club soon, and something immersive in the works for these spaces.

In the meantime, TI owner Phil Ruffin is busy shopping Circus Circus as he starts the process of cashing in his Las Vegas chips. See? If you read our stories to the end, you’re bound to get something juicy. Thank you for your continued patience.

Update (11/20/24): We’re told as Señor Frog’s time runs out, management has decided to institute a concession fee (CNF charge). This charge has been around a while and gets the customer exactly nothing. The predatory fee takes advantage of tourists who are too drunk or annoyed to fight the charge. If you are billed a concession fee, demand that it be removed.

Update (11/22/24): Our scoop has been confirmed. The last day of operation for Señor Frog’s Las Vegas will be Dec. 31, 2024. Read more.