Downtown’s Container Park officially full

The Container Park in downtown Las Vegas is officially full.

Two new stores and the locale’s first full-service restaurant opening in September will take the development to capacity, said Doug McPhail, retail operations director for the Downtown Project, a $350 million land redevelopment initiative.

“Having the perfect mix of businesses was more important to us than rushing to put something in that we didn’t feel was right,” McPhail said of the Fremont Street project. “We took our time to watch the businesses, see what we are and what we aren’t as well as what we want.”

McPhail said the Container Park, which opened in November, seeks to provide unique offerings to its customers as the nearly 40 businesses include everything from cupcakes to footwear and many in between.

“We want to see things that will give you a sense of surprise and exploration,” he said. “We look to go beyond the norm.”

Later this month, Kappa Toys, Blowout Dollhouse and the Perch will round out Container Park’s tenant roster.

Husband-and-wife team Lizzy Newsome and Trevor Yopp, Kappa Toys’ co-owners, graduated together from the University of Texas at Austin before both going to work for Toy Joy in Austin, Texas.

“When the Downtown Project was visiting Austin, they asked us to come here and reinvent the toy store,” Newsome said.

The couple said they couldn’t be happier to open a toy store at Container Park as the treehouse, an interactive play area in the middle of the shopping destination, draws children daily.

“Kids can come in here to play and get a sticker before they leave,” Newsome said of Kappa Toys.

The 1,100-square-foot store offers toys of all kinds including games, dress- up clothing, blocks and puppets along with classics such as Etch A Sketch.

“I want to grow with the community and be something that kids grow up with and remember when they’re older,” Yopp said. “We may even offer our own line of toys in the future.”

Newsome added, “I love the reaction kids get when they walk into a toy store. This is a toy store where it’s OK to look with your hands.”

On the Container Park’s third level, Latoya Holman is constructing her second Blowout Dollhouse location.

“We opened last June in Tivoli Village, and it’s so exciting to move onto the second one,” she said.

The eight-station blowout bar offers hairstyling services along with makeup applications and occasional manicures and pedicures on certain days of the week.

“When I tried to figure out what kind of business I wanted to open I asked what girls want and they love to be pampered,” Holman said. “After leaving here they feel like a runway model and every woman deserves to feel beautiful and powerful.”

As Blowout Dollhouse gears up for its mid-September opening, Holman said she’s looking forward to meeting customers.

“When women come in here, there’s a camaraderie and fun,” she said. “This dollhouse is all me and I will be in my house hosting amazing women, hanging out with cool chicks and making them hot … What’s better than that?”

The Perch, appropriately named as it’s on the second floor, overlooking Container Park’s stage, is a culinary concept that’s been carefully crafted by the Downtown Project team.

Dan Adams, the Downtown Project’s food and beverage operations director, said the Perch will offer cuisine and cocktails inspired by Chef Sonia El-Nawal’s worldly travels.

“We’ll be offering small plates and larger plates to attract a lunch and dinner crowd,” Adams said. “Our goal is to make Container Park a culinary destination and to accentuate courteous and sincere service with incredible food.”

Adams said the Perch can hold 40 people inside and another 22 outside on the patio.

“We’re family-focused at Container Park so the Perch is a place for kids, moms and dads to come enjoy great good while having a view of the entertainment,” he said. “This is an experience you won’t find too often on Fremont.”

McPhail said Container Park has already seen more than 1 million visitors and he expects it continue serving as a shopping, dining and entertainment haven for the community.

“We seek to create fun, unique and memorable experiences,” he said. “We also want to be an event and music destination so we’ll continue to grow those areas.”

Contact reporter Ann Friedman at 702-380-4588 or afriedman@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AnnFriedmanRJ on Twitter.