Platinum Purchases

The Forum Shops at Caesars Celebrates its 20th Anniversary
By Christie Moeller

Photo courtesy of The Forum Shops at Caesars

Launching to a fanfare of praise from both critics and consumers, The Forum Shops at Caesars brought to life the idea that shopping should be an experience for all the senses. Exclusive designer boutiques were paired with unique design elements: an indoor sky with lighting that evolves from dusk ’til dawn over the course of an hour; a cobblestone streetscape; “living statues”; elaborate architecture; ornate fountains. It even became home to Las Vegas’ first celebrity-chef restaurant, Wolfgang Puck’s Spago, which blazed the way for other chefs and restaurateurs to follow.

Simon Property Group, Inc., the nation’s largest public real-estate company, opened The Forum Shops at Caesars on May 11, 1992, unveiling 70 opulent stores in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip. Just as fashion is ever-changing, so is this shopping haven. In 1997, an expansion added 35 new shops and two restaurants, plus a 50,000-gallon saltwater aquarium. In 2004, the Phase III addition brought in 60 more stores and restaurants, a reflecting pool and the first three-level, freestanding spiral escalator in the United States.

“Las Vegas has truly undergone an impressive transformation with the retail experience,” says Maureen Crampton, the shop’s director of marketing. “More than showcases for clothing, shoes, cosmetics and gadgets, the city’s shopping centers have become theater spaces and attractions themselves. The Forum Shops was instrumental in changing the shopping dynamic of the city.”

The iconic retail venue has continued to evolve and thrive, becoming a mustshop destination for celebrities and both international and domestic fashion lovers alike. “We have become such a renowned shopping icon, some customers wait to conquer their shopping desires here,” Crampton says.