A Whirlwind of Security Breaches, Newness and Unqualified WTF at The Quad
As far as we know, The Quad Resort & Casino is still The Quad Resort & Casino, although it will become Linq Hotel & Casino on October 30, 2014. Read more.
Many things have changed since the hotel was the Imperial Palace, and the hotel and casino are still in flux. We made a recent visit, peering into private spaces and generally digging up everything new at The Quad. Let’s explore.
First, the exterior of The Quad is getting an overhaul. And by “overhaul” we mean “Sweet mother of god, what are they thinking?”
It’s almost as if The Quad is trying to use up all the leftover paint from every other hotel renovation in Las Vegas, ever.
The new exterior is just one part of a $223 million renovation which includes a much-needed retooling of the hotel’s rooms and an extensive renovation of the casino. We haven’t been able to sneak a look at the room renovations, but we’ve seen just about everything else, so let’s get on with it.
As we reported back in May 2014, the hotel’s shopping promenade, including Betty’s Diner, has been shuttered to make way for, wait for it, a fancier shopping promenade.
All the doors have been kept locked along the promenade, making security breaches difficult.
Happily, there are holes at strategic points in the construction walls, as you can see in the photo above. If the holes were caused by a vandal, we want to make it clear we don’t condone their actions. Of course, the fact we condemn vandalism doesn’t mean we’re not going to poke our camera in the openings. It’s Las Vegas. You can condemn and poke at the same time.
It’s weird so little has been accomplished at these new shops, as people are clamoring for more shopping in Las Vegas. The same way people in Las Vegas clamor for more heat in August.
Check out our photo gallery for more photos of empty rooms that will some day pretty much have the same stuff they did before the shopping promenade renovation.
Moving toward the casino, we note the hotel’s Fat Tuesday daiquiri bar has closed. Which, in Las Vegas, is akin to taking a stake to the heart.
Across from The Quad’s snazzy Catalyst Bar is another walled-off area (see below).
We recently learned this will be the location of the hotel’s new Diamond Lounge, for qualifying members of the Total Rewards casino loyalty club.
Just across from this area is a construction area in the heart of the casino.
We’ve been watching this center section for awhile now, and there are finally some signs of life! Hello, unlocked door.
We even fired up our drone and got a shot over the construction wall (and that’s the story we’re sticking to). How excited were we to see a bar taking shape, especially given the shape is roughly that of the Millennium Falcon?
From what we’ve heard, this new lobby bar will be called the Living Room. There is likely to be gambling, but much like at the hotel’s new Tag Bar, the table games will be automated (no human dealers).
The Living Room will cost a hefty $2.7 million, much of which hasn’t been spent yet, obviously.
The Living Room’s hook? According to the hotel, “The upcoming lobby bar will be one of the hotel’s signature elements. Unlike your typical lobby bar, it will offer a board game menu that allows you to reserve your favorite board games. You can play here, or even bring it up to your room.” Translation: “We have no idea where we’re going with this fancy new bar, other than wanting to attract younger, more affluent customers, so for the time being, we’re just going to wing it.” Read more.
What else is going on at The Quad?
The casino continues to be rejiggered. As we mentioned recently, the hotel’s popular dealertainers are no more.
The games in the casino are being moved around, and the craps tables have been uprooted, as shown below. (This is the area where the quirky Rapid Craps once lived, too. We don’t think that will be back.)
But wait, there’s more! There’s something happening in this area. We’d be more specific, but that would involve “research” or “asking someone.”
One of the more fascinating juxtapositions at The Quad involves the new elevator wraps. They tout the hotel becoming the Linq Hotel & Casino, but the accents above the elevators are remnants of the former, Asian-themed Imperial Palace.
More new (at least it’s new to us) WTF is found at the nearby cashier cage.
Apparently, you can purchase a “commemorative Frank Marino’s Divas $25 chip to celebrate Frank Marino’s 25,000th performance on the Las Vegas Strip.” So, you buy a $25 chip. And you take it home. And The Quad keeps your $25. Just so we’re clear.
Before we end our tour of The Quad, we can’t leave without a mention of an unfortunate victim of the hotel’s renovations. Specifically, the hotel’s “Pet Relief” area.
As with other Caesars Entertainment resorts on The Strip, The Quad is marketed to pet owners as being pet-friendly. There was a small “Pet Relief” area not too far from the hotel, but the location had to be changed because it was beneath work is being done on the rooms.
To get there, you need a GPS device, hiking boots and exceptional endurance. On the bright side, the walk (shown below) will allow you and your pet some quality bonding time.
Once you arrive at the relief area, well, just adjust your expectations.
To the hotel’s credit, it isn’t pushing its pet-friendliness much anymore.
All-in-all, it appears more surprises are afoot at The Quad hotel, soon to be The Linq hotel, formerly the Imperial Palace hotel. To-date, there have been hits (O’Sheas, Tag Lounge and Guy Fieri’s Vegas Kitchen & Bar), some misses (Chayo Mexican Kitchen, the poker “room,” the untimely end of the dealertainers) and lots of stuff where the jury’s still out.
We can’t wait to see what’s next! Especially if what’s next is behind a door somebody at The Quad forgot to lock.
Security Breaches at The Quad and More
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