Daniel S.
Yelp
Born in February 2015, the Grand Bazaar Shops is a 2-plus acre Grand Bazaar themed open air restaurant and retail complex fronting Bally's in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip. With the Linq and the Park it is one of the more recent developments extending the Strip outwards. When it first opened in 2015, it reflected a West Coast version of the infamous Turkey Grand Bazaar Shops meets Downtown Las Vegas Container Park. In its infancy stage before CVS opened it featured 120 shops that were primarily unique mom and pop shops. In my earliest days of visiting, it seemed that it's future were mom and pop shops with a possible retheming of Bally's to the Grand Bazaar. Four years later it is a different place. It is a place that I will share with you the reader.
The Grand Bazaar Shops is truly the Grand entrance to Bally's. The best thing I can say about it is that it is a great use of space that had been underutilized going back to the days when Bally's was the original MGM Grand. For decades it was an uninspiring linear garden that separated Bally's from the Strip. What it did was connect Bally's to the Las Vegas Strip.
During its first four years, it reminded me of the Downtown Las Vegas Container Park. The reason is that the majority of businesses looked like they were based in oversized containers under a Grand Bazaar themed roof. Today the tenants include Tix 4 Tonight, Giordano's, a 24 Hour CVS, Blue Ribbon Chicken, Subway, Turkey Ice Cream, a Tiki Bar, and Wahlburgers. Much of the activity occurs on the main outdoor corridor bridging Bally's to the Las Vegas Strip. Interspersed on the main corridor are cushioned (some with umbrellas) benches with a grand view of the Eiffel Tower, Swarovski Starburst, Bellagio Fountains, and Bally's. A Giordanos patio restaurant occupies a good part of the center.
I've caught its act since March 2015, a month after it came to life. The first time that I laid eyes on it was a few times during a week long family staycation. Since it opened, according to my Yelp check-ins I had been here 52 times. Because it is in the center of the Strip, this has been a nice rest stop. Especially when Starbucks was here from 2015 to early 2019. Post-Starbucks I regard it more of a nice spot to sit on a cushioned sofa bench than to shop. I enjoy sitting down and taking in the views of the Eiffel Tower, Bellagio Fountains, Swarovski Starburst, and Bally's. Especially at night. Now that the Starbuck's passed on, I prefer taking out a 24 ounce cold beer from its CVS and drinking it while admiring the sights. As far as shopping, it isn't saying much that I think the best tenant is CVS. As far as shops a current sight are corridors of closed down ones. The left side of the main corridor lost all its shops. This eyesore will be alleviated when an It's Sugar complete with an oversized gumball machine replaces the dead shops. For the record, they lost a very nice Starbucks, a Redneck Riviera, Swarovski Boutique, and Lodi's. In my opinion, when a Starbucks closes it is not a good sign.
One business I'd like to see go is the paid parking. The host property Bally's charges $15 a day for the parking garage that also serves this complex.
The restaurant situation is better. My family and I enjoy dining in Giordanos. I thought that Blue Ribbon was decent.
The main attraction is the Swarovski Starburst. Throughout the day and night it is eye candy that is just as sweet as the candy It's Sugar will soon be selling. At 9:00 pm and midnight it really comes to life with a 3 minute sound and light show. Co-starring with the towering Swarovski Starburst are the Turkish themed roofs that change colors. In my opinion the Swarovski Starburst is the attraction 24/7. With Starbucks gone, my favorite Grand Bazaar Shops activity is sitting on the sofa cushioned bench that overlooks the Swarovski Starburst, Eiffel Tower, and Bally's Jubilee Tower to the north and the Bellagio Fountains Show to the west. The Grand Bazaar Shops is also a grand spot to capture the Bellagio Fountains. Especially from the upper level Giordanos.
Although the Grand Bazaar Shops isn't really grand, it's an improvement over what it was before. Because it's in the center of the Strip and connects to Bally's , "I shall return."