[aggrofish]

It's hardly a startup fantasyland it's more one mans vision of structuring an environment suitable for his hipster employees.

[observer53]

Originally Posted by syn0r

I am a business owner downtown, and I have nothing but great things to say about Tony and his team. Many have come through Las Vegas, barking about making changes and improving the community...He has done it.

I can't wait to see what Tony comes up with over the next 5 years. He really is a visionary.

Thanks for the perspective.

Originally Posted by aggrofish

It's hardly a startup fantasyland it's more one mans vision of structuring an environment suitable for his hipster employees.

I don't know what his primary reason was, but even if you are right, if business owners such as the above poster, and other non-Zappos employees also benefit from what he's doing, isn't that a good thing?

[von949]

Originally Posted by aggrofish

It's hardly a startup fantasyland it's more one mans vision of structuring an environment suitable for his hipster employees.

Sounds about right.

There is some tension between long term businesses and the new businesses down there.

[Golfinnova]

Really surprised by some of the comments on here. Which would you rather have, dilapidated empty buildings where homeless use them for shelters thus no money goes into downtown?

Or would you prefer the vision of Tony Hsieh and I'll throw in Derek Stephens also for what they have done in just a few years what no one has accomplished prior to the recession? Both of them have revitalized downtown which means they bring jobs that weren't available before while also changing the dynamic from old Vegas to a younger more hip Vegas. The transformation from the Lady Luck to Downtown Grand was fabulous for those restaurants like Triple George Grill.

It's great walking around downtown versus 3 years ago, now if someone will just fix up Binions

[ddrhazy]

Originally Posted by aggrofish

It's hardly a startup fantasyland it's more one mans vision of structuring an environment suitable for his hipster employees.

That's fine, we need more hipsters in Vegas anyways.

[demoknite]

I hope someone has thought of this and I didnt read any of the articles, but if they dont have some sort of supermarket (or a couple of them) downtown the whole liveable/workable downtown LV wont work.

[aggrofish]

Originally Posted by observer53

Thanks for the perspective.



I don't know what his primary reason was, but even if you are right, if business owners such as the above poster, and other non-Zappos employees also benefit from what he's doing, isn't that a good thing?

It's really not what's good for downtown, that's just a byproduct of what's happening. It's what's good for Tony, his employees, and his pocketbook.

Wat about long term tenants who were forced out so the new coffee shop could go in?

[Raiderman]

Originally Posted by aggrofish

It's really not what's good for downtown, that's just a byproduct of what's happening. It's what's good for Tony, his employees, and his pocketbook.

Wat about long term tenants who were forced out so the new coffee shop could go in?

Well obviously he's not going to gentrify downtown just for giggles. The fact that he can do that AND make money at it, is what this country is all about. Even if you reverse it, and he can make money AND do that.. either way, do you think downtown is worse off??

[MountainBiking]

I'm a big fan of Tony Hsieh! I think what he's doing is fantastic! He has invested a very large amount of his own money and time into the revitalization of the once tired and dilapidated downtown Las Vegas. He is a visionary and an optimist! I can't believe some people have criticized his efforts. The move into the old city hall will change the course of downtown Las Vegas forever. Urbanism in the making! Downtown Las Vegas is now a place many start-ups and small businesses WANT to go. Way to go, Tony.

-Cheers.

[von949]

Originally Posted by demoknite

I hope someone has thought of this and I didnt read any of the articles, but if they dont have some sort of supermarket (or a couple of them) downtown the whole liveable/workable downtown LV wont work.

That should have been the first thing to be built. I read in an article that most "hipsters" that live downtown just order their groceries online anyway. Overall the gentrification of downtown is an improvement from what it used to be. If only there was a way that the new downtown could have somehow merged with the old essence of what was already there...in harmony.

I can't believe they sprayed over old graffiti to put up new graffiti in some of the areas down there.