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The Shops at Crystals

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The Shops at Crystals is an upscale shopping mall in the CityCenter complex on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada. The 500,000-square-foot (46,000 m2) mall contains high-end retailers, gourmet restaurants, and art galleries. The exterior design was created by Daniel Libeskind, while David Rockwell worked on interiors. For its environmentally friendly design, Crystals received LEED Gold Core & Shell certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, making it the largest retail district in the world to achieve such a feat.

The Shops at Crystals
Exterior of Crystals, as seen along the Las Vegas Strip
Map
LocationLas Vegas Strip, Paradise, Nevada
Coordinates36°6′29″N 115°10′28″W / 36.10806°N 115.17444°W / 36.10806; -115.17444
Address3720 S. Las Vegas Boulevard
Las Vegas, NV 89109[1]
Opening dateDecember 3, 2009; 14 years ago (December 3, 2009)
OwnerInvesco and Simon Property Group (50%)
ArchitectDaniel Libeskind
No. of stores and services57[2]
Total retail floor area500,000 sq ft (46,000 m2)
No. of floors3
Websitetheshopsatcrystals.com

Crystals opened on December 3, 2009, and was originally owned by MGM Resorts International and Dubai World. In 2016, it was sold to Invesco and Simon Property Group for $1.1 billion.

History

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The mall is part of the CityCenter project on the Las Vegas Strip, and was originally owned by MGM Resorts International and Dubai World.[3] It opened on December 3, 2009, known then as simply Crystals.[4][5] Despite opening during the Great Recession, MGM predicted that the mall would be successful.[6] However, as the economic downturn began, the company had briefly reconsidered whether to proceed with construction.[7] The mall struggled in its early years before seeing a turnaround.[8]

By 2013, the mall had been renamed The Shops at Crystals.[9] According to MGM chief Jim Murren, the mall was designed with the intent of eventually being sold.[8] In April 2016,[10] it was sold for $1.1 billion to Invesco and Simon Property Group in a joint partnership.[11][12]

Design

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Crystals interior and treehouse structure

The exterior of Crystals was designed by Daniel Libeskind, marking his first Las Vegas project,[13] while interior designs were done by David Rockwell.[4][7][14] Prospective retailers were attracted to the mall because of its design.[7]

Libeskind's design includes sharp angles and an abundance of glass.[7][15] The mall structure features complex steel framework which includes 19 separate roofs, uniquely shaped and overlapping in some cases.[16]

Rockwell's design includes a grand staircase,[17] and features an indoor park theme in some areas, including hanging gardens and a 70-foot wooden treehouse structure serving as a concierge desk and restaurant seating area.[4][5] The interior also has a flower carpet that is changed regularly based on the seasons. It was inspired by the Flower Carpet event in Brussels.[17] Ceilings reach up to 120 feet in some areas of the mall. Because of this, catwalks were built in four locations around the mall to aid in lighting maintenance.[18]

 
Overlooking the mall's roof and its sharp angles

Architecture critic James S. Russell, writing for Bloomberg News, called Crystals "a fun antidote to the smothering fairy-tale pomp that has become the Las Vegas norm".[19] Another architectural critic, Paul Goldberger, wrote in The New Yorker that Libeskind's jagged shapes "inject the normally dreary precinct of a shopping mall with a shot of adrenaline".[20] In 2013, USA Today named it among the most "amazing luxury malls" in the U.S.[21]

Like other buildings at CityCenter, Crystals was designed to be environmentally friendly, with features including skylights, reclaimed wood, and efficient water fixtures. In October 2009, it was awarded LEED Gold Core & Shell certification from the U.S. Green Building Council,[4][22] making it the largest retail district in the world to achieve such a feat.[23]

Features

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Exterior of Gucci and Dolce & Gabbana stores at Crystals

Crystals features 500,000 sq ft (46,000 m2) of space,[24] and has 57 tenants, including retailers and restaurants.[2] It opened with 23 tenants, and more were added throughout 2010.[4][6][24] Some retailers had delayed their openings due to poor economic conditions, and others dropped out altogether.[5] The mall targets a wealthy clientele and is known for its luxury stores.[6][25][26]

Notable retailers at the time of opening included Dior, Hermès, Prada, Tiffany & Co.,[4][27] Assouline Publishing, and De Grisogono.[25][28] Thirteen retailers made their Las Vegas debut with the opening of Crystals, including Miu Miu, Paul Smith, Porsche Design, and Tom Ford.[4] Crystals includes the largest Louis Vuitton store in North America, with a three-story facility measuring 14,000 sq ft (1,300 m2).[4][25][29] Assouline and De Grisogono closed in 2013, and several new retailers opened later that year, including Loro Piana, Richard Mille, Rimowa, and Valentino.[28]

 
Glacia ice attraction

The mall includes water and ice attractions designed by WET.[5][25] Halo consists of clear cylinders filled with water, which is manipulated by high-speed motors to produce vortices accompanied by colored lighting. Glacia consists of ice columns rising up to 15 feet. Rods within the columns can heat or cool the ice to create unique carvings. The columns are illuminated by light, and the attraction is accompanied by a tone poem from Mickey Hart.[30][31][32]

Crystals opened a Princess Diana exhibit in 2022, marking the 25th anniversary of her death. Princess Diana: A Tribute Exhibition covers 10,000 sq ft (930 m2) and features numerous personal items that belonged to her.[33][34][35]

Restaurants

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Crystals opened with several restaurants, including Mastro's Ocean Club,[4] a steak and seafood restaurant which includes dining space in the mall's treehouse.[36][37][38] Other restaurants included Brasserie Puck, a French restaurant by chef Wolfgang Puck. The Pods, also by Puck, offered coffee and snacks.[39] Brasserie failed to meet expectations and was replaced by a new Italian restaurant from Puck called Cucina, opened in June 2010.[24][40][41] An Asian restaurant, Social House, opened in 2010,[42][43][44] and operated for five years.[45]

Chef Todd English and actress Eva Longoria partnered to create a space which operated as a restaurant and nightclub, known respectively as Beso and Eve. The business opened with Crystals,[4][39] and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2011, following financial problems and litigation with investors.[46][47] Later that year, Landry's agreed to purchase the restaurant and now-closed nightclub. The combined business had owed more than $3 million in back rent to MGM. Despite this, MGM stood by Longoria in her battle with investors, viewing her involvement as an asset to the business.[48][49] In 2012, Landry's closed Beso for remodeling and reopened it as She, a female-oriented steakhouse with a nightclub. Longoria retained an ownership stake in the new business. The nightclub closed in early 2013, and Landry's closed She in May 2014.[50][51]

Chef English also opened a bar and restaurant, known as Todd English P.U.B., in 2010.[39] He departed the property in 2017, and his bar was renamed simply The Pub.[52] It was replaced in 2022 by Toca Madera, a Mexican restaurant.[53][54]

Art

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Upon opening, Crystals included art galleries by Dale Chihuly, Richard MacDonald, and Rodney Lough Jr.[25][55] Several other artists have their work on display throughout Crystals, including Wook Jang Cheung, whose steel sculptures depict animals and reach up to 10 feet in height.[56] In 2010, MGM commissioned graffiti artist DAIM to create Left Attention, a 69-foot-long by 15-foot-high mural on the mall's third floor.[57]

Akhob, an art installation by James Turrell, opened at the mall's Louis Vuitton store in 2013. Later that year, he designed a monorail station for Crystals.[58][59][60] In 2015, Tatsuo Miyajima unveiled Hoto, an 18-foot mirror tower featuring more than 3,000 LED-lit numbers.[61][62] Immersive Van Gogh, an interactive exhibit focused on the work of artist Vincent van Gogh, was showcased on the mall's entire third floor during 2021.[63]

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  •  
    Crystals, seen at the base of CityCenter
  •  
    Exterior view along the Strip
  •  
    One of the mall entrances
  •  
    Ground floor
  •  
    Overlooking the mall interior
  •  
    Shopping corridor
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    Flower arrangements inside the mall
  •  
    The mall's treehouse structure
  •  
    Treehouse from the ground floor

See also

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  • 63, another shopping complex at CityCenter

References

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  1. ^ "Vegas > Shopping > Crystals". vegas.com. Retrieved 2009-11-28.
  2. ^ a b "Center Directory". Simon Property Group. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
  3. ^ Stutz, Howard (March 2, 2016). "Crystals mall at CityCenter reportedly sold for $1.13 billion". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "CityCenter unveils Crystals retail district". Las Vegas Sun. December 3, 2009. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c d Knightly, Arnold M. (December 3, 2009). "Bigger, Bolder Luxury". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  6. ^ a b c Knightly, Arnold M. (December 10, 2009). "Good luck with all that luxe". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  7. ^ a b c d Simpson, Jeff (July 10, 2009). "Crystals reveals more of its facets". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  8. ^ a b Segall, Eli (February 21, 2013). "MGM Resorts hints at eventual sale of Crystals mall at CityCenter". VegasInc. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  9. ^ "Veer Towers on Strip". Las Vegas Review-Journal. November 2, 2013. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  10. ^ Morris, J. D. (April 15, 2016). "$1.1 billion sale of Crystals mall has closed". VegasInc. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  11. ^ Morris, J. D. (March 18, 2016). "CityCenter's Shops at Crystals selling for $1.1 billion". VegasInc. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  12. ^ Robison, Jennifer (March 18, 2016). "Investors bet big with $1.1B purchase of CityCenter mall". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  13. ^ "Crystalize". Las Vegas Business Press. December 7, 2009. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  14. ^ "Q&A with Crystals interior architect David Rockwell". Las Vegas Business Press. January 11, 2010. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  15. ^ Gregor, Alison (May 27, 2009). "Building It Big in Las Vegas". The New York Times. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  16. ^ Illia, Tony (March 3, 2010). "Strip Superstar: CityCenter makes its Las Vegas debut". Engineering News-Record. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
  17. ^ a b Seward, Aaron (May 3, 2010). "Bright Crystal". Architect Magazine. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
  18. ^ Seward, Aaron (May 3, 2010). "Crystals, Citycenter". Architect Magazine. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
  19. ^ Russell, James S. (December 14, 2009). "Vegas CityCenter Opens At Last". Bloomberg. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  20. ^ Goldberger, Paul (September 27, 2010). "What Happens in Vegas". The New Yorker. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
  21. ^ Fox, Ruta (November 15, 2013). "America's amazing luxury malls". USA Today. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  22. ^ "CityCenter retail area gets LEED Gold certification". Las Vegas Sun. October 22, 2009. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  23. ^ "Crystals at CityCenter Achieves LEED Gold". Engineering News-Record. December 1, 2009. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
  24. ^ a b c Finnegan, Amanda (September 20, 2010). "CityCenter's Crystals adjusts, boosts occupancy with new retailers". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  25. ^ a b c d e Jones, Jay (December 27, 2009). "Crystals at CityCenter opens doors to Vegas' big spenders". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  26. ^ "The Crystals at CityCenter all about luxury". Las Vegas Business Press. August 4, 2008. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  27. ^ Green, Steve (July 6, 2009). "Prada, Christian Dior, Bulgari to be among CityCenter's retailers". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  28. ^ a b Segall, Eli (July 8, 2013). "New shops coming to Crystals mall at CityCenter". VegasInc. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  29. ^ Moore, Booth (January 9, 2011). "Vegas' grand designs". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  30. ^ Velotta, Richard N. (December 16, 2009). "Water — swirling, spewing, frozen — to entertain visitors at CityCenter". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  31. ^ Hodge, Damon (December 7, 2009). "Firm unveils five new water features at CityCenter". Travel Weekly. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
  32. ^ Gladstone, E.C. (March 17, 2010). "That's aquatainment!". Las Vegas Weekly. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
  33. ^ Katsilometes, John (June 15, 2022). "Princess Diana exhibit to grace the Strip". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
  34. ^ Zabat, Gabrielle (August 17, 2022). "Princess Diana: A Tribute Exhibition debuts for 25th death anniversary". KSNV. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
  35. ^ Szydelko, Paul (October 3, 2022). "Princess Diana exhibit is the latest jewel in the crown of Vegas attractions". Travel Weekly. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
  36. ^ Radke, Brock (February 9, 2012). "Seafood worth wading (through tourists) for: Mastro's Ocean Club". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  37. ^ Begley, Jim (July 17, 2015). "Mastro's Ocean Club hits all the right notes". Las Vegas Magazine. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  38. ^ Radke, Brock (October 12, 2017). "Mastro's Ocean Club does destination dining". Las Vegas Weekly. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  39. ^ a b c Radke, Brock (March 31, 2010). "Eating Crystals". Las Vegas Weekly. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
  40. ^ Radke, Brock (February 3, 2019). "Strip for Locals: Colorful and authentic Italian at Cucina by Wolfgang Puck". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  41. ^ Radke, Brock (September 11, 2019). "Discover tableside specials at Wolfgang Puck's rustic Italian gem Cucina". Las Vegas Weekly. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  42. ^ "Social House restaurant getting a new home at CityCenter". Las Vegas Sun. March 24, 2010. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  43. ^ Radke, Brock (September 8, 2010). "Social House improves on its quality pan-Asian cuisine in new location". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  44. ^ Levitan, Corey (September 21, 2010). "Social House settles into new digs". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
  45. ^ Stapleton, Susan (March 27, 2015). "Social House Turns Dark After Service on Saturday". Eater. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
  46. ^ Green, Steve (February 5, 2011). "CityCenter sides with Longoria, Beso against dismissal of bankruptcy case". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  47. ^ Green, Steve (February 16, 2011). "CityCenter's Beso restaurant could face eviction over finances, attorney says". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  48. ^ Green, Steve (September 14, 2011). "Eva Longoria's Beso restaurant deal is challenged". VegasInc. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  49. ^ Green, Steve (September 27, 2011). "Eva Longoria's Beso restaurant's fate in hands of CityCenter mall". VegasInc. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  50. ^ Green, Steve (August 30, 2012). "Beso at CityCenter closed; making way for restaurant with feminine appeal". VegasInc. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  51. ^ Rindels, Michelle (May 28, 2014). "Landry's pulls the plug on Eva Longoria's steakhouse on the Strip". Las Vegas Sun. Associated Press. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  52. ^ Martin, Bradley (December 26, 2017). "Todd English P.U.B. Out, Olives at Bellagio Next". Eater Vegas. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
  53. ^ Martin, Bradley (August 30, 2021). "West Hollywood's Mexican Restaurant Toca Madera Heads to the Las Vegas Strip". Eater. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
  54. ^ Sheckells, Melinda (July 25, 2022). "Inside the New $10M Toca Madera Restaurant in Las Vegas". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
  55. ^ Toplikar, Dave (November 17, 2009). "Chihuly coming to CityCenter". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  56. ^ Peterson, Kristen (September 25, 2013). "Wook Jang Cheung's surreal silver sculpture at Crystals". Las Vegas Weekly. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  57. ^ "With graffiti, CityCenter tagged, you're it". Las Vegas Business Press. September 6, 2010. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  58. ^ Peterson, Kristen (May 15, 2013). "About the James Turrell installation inside the Louis Vuitton store at CityCenter". Las Vegas Weekly. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  59. ^ Baude, Dawn-Michelle (June 12, 2013). "James Turrell brings a second (less successful) installation to Crystals". Las Vegas Weekly. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  60. ^ Heyman, Stephen (August 6, 2013). "In-Demand Artist, Now on View in Vegas". The New York Times. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  61. ^ Peterson, Kristen (September 30, 2015). "CityCenter is again igniting conversation with art". Las Vegas Weekly. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  62. ^ Stapleton, Susan (September 28, 2015). "Japanese artist Tatsuo Miyaiima lights up the Shops at Crystals". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  63. ^ Katsilometes, John (June 17, 2021). "'Immersive Van Gogh' headed for Crystals on the Strip". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
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