Downtown’s Greyhound Station, Magnet for Crime, is Out

By Scott Roeben, on February 25 2021
2 min read 12 comments
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Downtown’s Greyhound bus station, a magnet for crime and vagrancy, has closed after 50 years.

The Greyhound bus station has been a thorn in the side of Plaza casino, as Plaza inherited a long-term lease in 2005. Let’s just say the lease wasn’t renewed.

Plaza and the station have been joined at the hip, and not in a good way. Here’s where the station formerly operated.

Greyhound station Plaza
No word yet on what Plaza intends to do with the giant red arrow.

Back in the day, the Greyhound station lease made a lot more sense. The idea was casino customers would be delivered to the Plaza’s doorstep. Lately, not so much.

The station closed on Feb. 23, 2021.

The lease was actually up in July 2021, but Greyhound closed the station earlier than expected.

That sound you hear is Plaza CEO Jonathan Jossel dancing in the street.

Jonathan Jossel Greyhound
All due respect to Greyhound, but GTFO.

On a recent episode of the Plaza’s podcast, “On the Corner of Main Street,” Clark County Metro Sheriff Joe Lombardo confirmed the bus station was a “negative draw” for the area.

The Greyhound bus station was responsible for the most police calls for service in the entire city.

Greyhound Las Vegas
The best bus stations are empty bus stations.

The sheriff also said bus stations are notorious for drawing shady characters looking to victimize those arriving by bus who are perhaps “wide-eyed” and vulnerable to hucksters.

Greyhound closed downtown Vegas
So many characters. So many stories. So much WTF.

The move of the bus station should eliminate a significant amount of crime from the Fremont Street area.

The Greyhound station is moving to RTC South Strip Transfer Terminal at 6675 Gilespie Street. Good luck with that!

Greyhound Vegas downtown
“Please leave us out of this.” ~Actual greyhounds

Despite the challenges of having the Greyhound station downtown, there was one noteworthy moment. The station was featured in “Bourne,” starring Matt Damon.

We caught an exclusive photo of the station being rebranded for the movie.

The downtown Greyhound station was renamed “Blue Line Transit” for “Bourne.”

Vegas Bourne movie
While “Bourne” sucked, we like exclusives, so we’ll take it.

Now that Greyhound has hit the road, Plaza has plans to develop the space.

Preliminary plans include restaurants, retail and an entertainment venue.

Greyhound station Vegas
There are still a few strays, but Greyhound’s out downtown.

Things are looking up for Plaza, as its new neighbor, Circa Las Vegas, has brought some new attention to the classic casino.

Plaza turns 50 years old in July 2021.

Downtown Vegas bus station
This is the sign outside the former bus station. Honesty required by law.

The closure of the Greyhound station at Plaza is sure to inspire glee among the security teams at Plaza, as well as Golden Gate and Golden Nugget just across the street.

While Plaza’s McDonald’s might take a financial hit, the bus station’s move could work wonders in changing how some perceive downtown Las Vegas.

Now, how can we relocate the Clark County Detention Center?

 

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