In the 1990s and early 2000s every major brand seemed to need a foothold in Las Vegas.
That rush led to some ill-fated properties, like casinos themed to both World Wrestling Entertainment and Hooters, the chicken-wing chain known mostly for the outfits its wait staff wears.
And while those are two of the more ludicrous companies to enter the casino business, Las Vegas -- and especially the Las Vegas Strip -- has always been a draw for companies looking to build their names.
That's why after many attempts that struggled, Dunkin' now has a presence on the Strip that rivals its upscale (relatively speaking) rival Starbucks (SBUX).
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Now, the Las Vegas Strip has become a proving ground for seemingly every major brand. That includes brand-name chefs, many of whom have tried to make their mark on the famed 4.2-mile stretch of road.
When you have Gordon Ramsay, Bobby Flay, Martha Stewart, Giada De Laurentiis, Wolfgang Puck, and countless other culinary titans competing in a relatively compact area, other brands get forced out.
The Las Vegas Strip has room for fast food chains and certain kitschy operations like Hash House a Go Go, but a brand that was once immensely popular, at least in a pop-culture sense, has quietly been shuttered.
Ethan Miller/Getty Images for Caesars Entertainment
Planet Hollywood Closes on the Las Vegas Strip
In the '90s Planet Hollywood captured the public's imagination. Created as Hard Rock Cafe for movies, the chain's restaurants were filled with movie memorabilia, and when one opened, it was handled like the premiere of a major film.
Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Bruce Willis -- the three biggest action stars in the world -- were part owners of the chain. The presence of those stars (who were paid with stock in the company) at the launch of a new Planet Hollywood made the chain feel like a hip, happening place where famous people hang out.
In 2023, consumers are a little smarter than that, and Planet Hollywood has slowly seen its locations dwindle.
In Las Vegas the brand has a confusing presence. There's the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino owned by Caesars Entertainment (CZR), which does not host one of the company's namesake restaurants. And there's a Planet Hollywood eatery in Caesars Palace's Forum Shops.
The Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino continues to operate under that moniker, but the restaurant, which has been open for nearly 30 years, has unexpectedly closed its doors.
Caesars Bets Big on Celebrity Chefs
While celebrity-chef-fronted restaurants are a big part of MGM Resorts International's (MGM) offerings as well, Caesars has opted to go with the biggest TV stars.
Fieri specifically isn't really known for being a great chef, but he's a very famous person and his name is all over Caesars's various properties, including his recent reimagining of the sports book at the company's newly rebranded Horseshoe Resort Casino.
The casino company has also made a huge bet on Flay, who will be adding a second upscale restaurant at Caesars Palace to go along with Amalfi, his high-end Italian eatery. Flay will take over the former Old Homestead Steakhouse in a prime location at the company's flagship resort and open Brasserie B by Bobby Flay, a French restaurant.
Ramsay operates multiple steakhouses inside Caesars properties and recently revamped the former Oyster Bar space at Harrah's. De Laurentiis operates both upscale and fast-casual concepts at Caesars Strip properties while Stewart recently opened The Bedford at Paris Las Vegas.
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