Sls las vegas hotel and casino

SLS Las Vegas takes it back to the future, changing its name to Sahara Las Vegas, a tip of the hat to the resort on the north end of the Strip’s past.

“The Sahara played an important role in the evolution of the destination,” owner Alex Meruelo told the crowd of about 700 that gathered at the resort’s Foxtail Pool on Thursday night. “And, we are now responsible for shaping a new narrative. We are writing the next chapter in the city’s evolution, for the love of Vegas.”

Meruelo bought the SLS from San Francisco-based investment fund Stockbridge Capital Group in April 2018 for an undisclosed amount of money. The Sahara originally opened in 1952, closing in 2011 before reopening in 2014 as SLS Las Vegas.

Meruelo told the crowd that the $150 million renovation of the resort includes changes to the restaurants over the next two to three years. “Every detail will change, big or small,” he said.

Already the resort filed for a permit with the Clark County Comprehensive Planning Department to change signs to the Sahara name.

Meruelo’s Las Vegas Resort Holdings controls the SLS. Last week, Meruelo became new majority owner of the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes.

California-based SBE Hotel Licensing LLC, which owns the SLS brand, filed a lawsuit in May against Las Vegas Resort Holdings LLC for unpaid licensing fees. SBE claims Las Vegas Resort Holdings owes at least $450,000 in licensing fees, which had not been paid since last November for the hotel brand and restaurant brands the company owns, including Bazaar Meat by Jose Andres and Katsuya, which closed in March.

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