Pizza chain links up with Southern Nevada

     Peter Piper Pizza has arrived in Las Vegas to take advantage of the city's new status as a "family-friendly destination."
      Four family-oriented pizza outlets varying in size from 12,000 to 22,000 square feet opened this week in the Las Vegas Valley, each equipped with the hottest new video games and redemption games for prizes to go along with moderately priced pizzas. The locations formerly were home to now-defunct Pistol Pete's Pizza.
      "As Las Vegas continues to strengthen its appeal as a destination for families, we will emphasize our presence," said C. Ronald Petty, president of the Phoenix-based chain that has 125 restaurants in the West and Mexico. It is ranked among the top 10 pizza restaurant chains in the United States.
      The four locations, each open daily from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. (11 p.m. on weekends), are at 560 S. Decatur Blvd., 3430 E. Tropicana Ave., 2401 E. Lake Mead Blvd. and 350 N. Nellis Blvd. ...
      -- Patrick Beck has been named chef of the new Gordon Biersch brewery restaurant set to open Aug. 5 at 3987 Paradise Road in the Hughes Center.
      Beck, schooled in France, will oversee a menu mix of American dishes with Pacific Rim touches to go along with the company's German-style lager beers. He joins Ruben Garcia Galvez who is chef of the Gordon Biersch restaurant that opened recently inside Sunset Station, 1301 W. Sunset Road, in Henderson.
      The Hughes Center opening will include an invitation-only fete on Aug. 4 followed by an Aug. 5-17 grand opening in which a percentage of profits will be donated to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Las Vegas. ...
      -- The Hard Rock Hotel, 4455 Paradise Road, has entered the Las Vegas meal deal sweepstakes with a $5.95 steak and shrimp dinner served 24 hours a day in the resort's Mr. Lucky's 24/7 diner. It includes an 8-ounce sirloin, three shrimp on a skewer, salad and either baked or mashed potato.