Fontainebleau Las Vegas Debuts Luxury Retail Stores
A year after opening, the Fontainebleau’s luxury retail offerings are taking shape in Las Vegas.
Alaïa, Bottega Veneta, Gucci and Boucheron are the latest stores to bow at the hotel and casino property, which officially opened its doors Dec. 13, 2023, with a splashy party attended by Cher, Anitta, Kim Kardashian, Eva Longoria, Sylvester Stallone, Lenny Kravitz, Tom Brady, Justin Timberlake, Keith Urban and more.
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At that point, only Chrome Hearts, Missoni, Giuseppe Zanotti and Alexander Wang had opened in the hotel’s retail space, which is integrated into the podium-like shape of the development.
Florida real estate developer Jeffrey Soffer’s company bought the Las Vegas property first occupied by The Thunderbird in 2000 but didn’t reveal plans to build the new resort until 2005, after he partnered with former Mandalay Resort Group president Glenn Schaeffer to form Fontainebleau Resorts and purchased the Fontainebleau hotel in Miami Beach.
He invested more than $1 billion to renovate and reopen the iconic 1954 Florida landmark in 2008, but funding for the Las Vegas project fell apart during the recession. The property went into bankruptcy and changed hands a few more times before Soffer returned to it with partner Brett Mufson, and funding from Koch Industries’ real estate investment wing. The blue-hued resort is 67 stories with 3,644 luxury hotel rooms and suites.
“Our approach to retail is centered around ‘unexpected gems’ — curating luxury brands and products that are not commonly found on the Strip,” said Fontainebleau Development vice president of corporate retail Brooke Soffer, whose family has a long history in the retail real estate business, building the Aventura Mall in Florida for one.
Conceived by Swedish design studio Halleroed, the Alaïa store is one of just three U.S. stores for the hot French brand designed by Pieter Mulier. “The timeless essence of the maison meets a contemporary and minimal atmosphere” in the space featuring high ceilings dripping with columnar stalactites, and a curved, modular sofa from the ’70s as the centerpiece.
Boucheron chose the Fontainebleau for its second U.S. store, a 1,560-square-foot design concept with a family feel first seen at the jewelry brand’s Paris flagship and then brought to New York for the first U.S. store that opened in September.
“Las Vegas represents a crucial step in our U.S. expansion strategy,” Boucheron chief executive officer Hélène Poulit-Duquesne told WWD. “After New York, Las Vegas is an ideal location as it attracts an affluent, international clientele who appreciate luxury experiences. Its vibrant energy and its position as a global luxury destination make it perfect for increasing brand awareness among both American and international clients.”
The Bottega Veneta store, the fifth in Las Vegas, features Matthieu Blazy’s pre-spring collection, and is anchored by blue sodalite stone terrazzo inspired by Venetian homes and the Fontainebleau Las Vegas aesthetic. Brand touches include Intrecciato-inspired wood and leather seating; Italian walnut wood shelving, and house motifs like Drop and Sardine-shaped hooks.
The Gucci store, also the fifth in Las Vegas, includes exclusive Fontainebleau items alongside Sabato De Sarno’s full ready-to-wear, accessories and the Link to Love fine jewelry collection. Key design elements include marble flooring inspired by historic Italian architecture, and vibrant acid green and yellow carpeting, which define distinct areas of the space. Curated furnishings by B&B Italia, Cassina, and Minotti reflect De Sarno’s contemporary vision.
The retail rollout at the hotel will continue through 2025 with Zimmerman; Saint Laurent; Santa Maria Novella, Graff and The Webster opening in the first quarter, and Rick Owens and Cartier to follow later in the year.
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