Pure nightclub to close, reopen with new name, concept

The high-profile Pure nightclub at Caesars Palace will soon dis­appear.

Hakkasan Group announced Wednesday it will close the nearly 10-year-old club May 26 for an extensive renovation and expansion that will open in 2015.

Hakkasan Group President Nick McCabe said Pure will reopen under a new name and concept.

“Pure had a huge amount of success and it truly was a pioneer in the industry,” McCabe said. “Pure really changed the market.”

McCabe said the club will be expanded by taking over space that now houses Caesars Palace’s poker room. The poker room is expected to be moved to a new space near the race and sports book.

Pure, which opened in 2004, was one of several Las Vegas and Atlantic City nightclub and restaurant operations London-based Hakkasan acquired in February when it purchased Angel Management Group.

Hakkasan operates the multi­level Hakkasan nightclub and restaurant inside the MGM Grand Las Vegas, which opened a year ago at a cost of more than $100 million.

“Pure was built at a cost of $15 million,” McCabe said. “The market has changed.”

The current Pure space covers 36,000 square feet and includes several rooms and an outdoor terrace overlooking the Strip. The location attracted numerous celebrities over the years and gained national recognition.

More nightclubs and dayclub spaces are opening this year.

Drai’s 65,000-square-foot rooftop pool/beach club/nightclub opens Memorial Day weekend atop The Cromwell. Meanwhile, the $415 million SLS Las Vegas opens Labor Day weekend with several nightlife attractions, including a Las Vegas version of The Sayers Club, a Los Angeles music venue.

McCabe said the Strip’s evolving nightclub market created a need to renovate Pure and bring a new concept to the space. He knows what replaces Pure will be compared to the popular Hakkasan at MGM Grand.

“We’re our own worst enemies,” McCabe said. “We’ve set a pretty high bar for ourselves. Caesars is one of the premier properties on the Strip and it requires nightlife experience.”

Pure will donate its furnishings to Opportunity Village, Hakkasan said.

In April, Hakkasan and MGM Resorts International formed MGM Hakkasan Hospitality, a hotel management company that will design, develop and manage luxury nongaming hotels worldwide.

The new company will work to develop properties in key international gateway cities and resort destinations worldwide under the Bellagio, Hakkasan, MGM Grand and Skylofts brands.

Contact reporter Howard Stutz at hstutz@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3871. Follow @howardstutz on Twitter.