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Derek Stevens
Although the energy of Tony Hsieh and other non-gamers has helped fuel the transformation of downtown Las Vegas, a cadre of Fremont Street casino owners also deserve credit. Derek Stevens is prominent among them.
Stevens is overseeing two downtown remodeling projects: the addition of a new high-roller gaming area and 16 suites to the historic Golden Gate (the building housed the city’s first hotel, which opened in 1906), and the transformation of Fitzgeralds into The D.
Of the two, the Golden Gate is the smaller job. The high-limit pit is about to open, as is the first floor of suites, with the rest of the rooms to be completed by the end of May. The expansion has been executed with assembly-line precision and will open on time.
Turning Fitzgeralds into The D will take a little more time—at least four months. Stevens and his brother Gregory bought the rundown property at the end of October and decided to do a full remodel, followed by a rebranding.
They are turning one of the property’s biggest challenges—its two-story casino—into an attraction. Historically, multi-level casinos haven’t performed well, which is why you don’t see many of them. But Stevens is confident that, after the remodel, the novelty will be a draw.
“I wanted to take the aspect that’s different,” he says, “and truly differentiate.” So the first floor will be louder, more contemporary, with more LED lighting, while the second floor is more vintage, with prominent neon throughout. It’s going to feature classic games, including coin-operated slots and retro aspects from the 1950s through the ’80s. It’s a way of accommodating the old downtown with the new indoor/outdoor party vibe that outdoor bars—which have spread since Stevens introduced One Bar at the Golden Gate in 2009—have inspired.
At The D, Stevens picked a name that might take some getting used to. “The D” doesn’t immediately suggest a hotel-casino, but it’s got a certain old-school charm. It’s certainly not the same kind of focus-group-tested, picked-by-committee name as “Vdara” or “Aria.”
“We came up with it ourselves,” Stevens says. “In reality, it stands for downtown. It’s also a tip of the cap to Detroit.” Stevens is quick to point out that The D will not be a “Detroit-themed casino” by any stretch of the imagination, but it’s Stevens’ way of paying tribute to his hometown. It doesn’t hurt that many people call him “D” for short.
Some downtowners haven’t fallen in love with the name, but Stevens isn’t worried.
“I’m a firm believer that the name does not make a casino, but the hotel-casino makes the name,” he says. “I think by the fall, when everything is up and running, people will come here and say, ‘Wow, this is downtown?’ I’m comfortable with the design. It’s going to be a nice property, oriented around fun. That’s one of my key themes in Golden Gate. When people come out, they’re having a pretty good time. Whether they’re upstairs or downstairs, the same will be true at The D.”
Stevens—who also owns the Las Vegas 51s baseball team—loves downtown Las Vegas, but in many ways his heart is still in Detroit. That’s not a bad thing. He’s deeply committed to buying American, and here in Southern Nevada he’s even more committed to buying locally.
“Usually, you create your designs then quote it out to Chinese manufacturers,” he says. “But I wanted to stay local. I’m glad I stood firm. We got a great deal from a Las Vegas-based company that’s providing all of the furniture for the property. I’m awfully proud that we were able to do that.”
I'm from Detroit (albeit, I live 2 blocks north of 8 mile now - what I wouldn't give to live anywhere on a saltwater beach).
This is the most awkward, inaccurate depiction of Detroit I have ever seen. I rarely get angry about plays on Detroit, artistic interpretation of what the city is... but if you're going to use Detroit as jacobs ladder to attract visitors, at least get it right!!!!!
Now about the real D. The real Detroit is a far cry from this hotel... we have no ambulance/fire services (like 12 ambulances and a questionable amount of fire trucks to service a huge sprawled out city) and police have a 48 hr response time. Is the air conditioning turned down to 5 degrees in the lobby like it actually was today in Detroit? The inside looks much higher end than anything outside of the business district except for a few select neighborhoods, or most places inside the business district for that matter. The only people who want to come to Detroit city already live here and can't afford to vacation (because they've spent most of their money on Detroit's casinos), or they come here for the grit and the music. It's been 300 years and the city is still in shambles, and like any other greedy corporation, I predict the same outcome for this hotel should it choose to be an exploitive venue for tourism instead of a real depiction of the city.
Now, I wouldn't be myself, if I didn't suggest some improvements with my complaints: CHILL WITH THE DISCO LIGHTS! Detroit is not a ritzy city - it is dark and has more of a Gotham vibe, hire Tyree Guyton to do some murals (every Detroiter should know who he is), add some grit, some attitude, and take critiques. Maybe bring some motown elements in, or jazz since Detroit has the oldest operational jazz club in America - Baker's Keyboard lounge. Perhaps even partner with Detroit brands (Faygo, Strohs, Pewabic Pottery, Eastern Market, Aptemal Clothing, etc.) to promote Detroit. I'm definitely not impressed by American Coney... since everyone in the D knows Lafayette Coney or Plaka is the late night munchy hut if you are around downtown.
All I'm saying is greedy is as greedy does and if you don't start looping Detroit businesses in soon, word spreads quickly and the D hotel already has a reputation as a joke here. Exploiting the city for personal economic gain, sans helping it's namesake, will only bring you misery from a city where people are suffering from poor city managment for the last 312 years. Detroit is a small community that does not take kindly to exploitation since it is already fighting a crazy level of corruption.