Juhl apartments greeting new retailers, restaurants

By ALAN SNEL LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

10 years ago

A sign advertises leasing space at the Juhl apartment building at the intersection of E. Bonneville Avenue and S. 4th Street in Las Vegas Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015. (Erik Verduzco/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Uri Vaknin, partner of DK Las Vegas LLC, poses for a portrait in front a future business front at the Juhl apartment building at the intersection of E. Bonneville Avenue and S. 4th Street in Las Vegas Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015. (Erik Verduzco/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

A future business front at the Juhl apartment building at the intersection of E. Bonneville Avenue and S. 4th Street in Las Vegas is seen on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015. (Erik Verduzco/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Juhl apartment building at the intersection of E. Bonneville Avenue and S. 4th Street in Las Vegas is seen on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015. The building will be host to six new business fronts on their lower level this spring. (Erik Verduzco/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

It took a while, but the upscale Juhl apartment building near the Bonneville Transit Center in downtown Las Vegas will be welcoming a half-dozen stores and restaurants on the ground floor in the spring.

The 341-unit building’s owner, DK Las Vegas LLC, announced Tuesday that leases have been signed with:

■ Tui Lifestyles, a national home decor brand known for its fully decorated, prepackaged room settings. It picked the Juhl for its first western United States location.

■ Le Phõ Vietnamese restaurant, with a concept similar to East Fremont’s Le Thai and La Comida.

■ Box Human Landscapers, a body wax boutique moving from Summerlin and was among the first to sign. Box also opened a location in Manhattan Beach, Calif.

■ Greens and Proteins, a health food cafe known for its wraps, pizzas, burgers, vegan, raw and vegetarian-friendly meals, smoothies and juices. This is the third location for Greens and Proteins in the Las Vegas Valley.

■ Classic Jewel, a cocktail bar and lounge with a 1950s theme and intimate seating.

■ Audio Video Boutique, a store selling audio/video and home theater equipment.

The owner is also negotiating to rent six live-and-work spaces, which could be used for a coffee shop, fitness concept or pet business and allow the business owner to live in the building.

Uri Vaknin, a DK Las Vegas partner, said the tenant variety fits the building, which is located between the evolving hipster East Fremont and the Arts districts.

He noted Downtown Project, Tony Hsieh’s $350 million redevelopment initiative along the East Fremont corridor, is not financing any of the new Juhl tenants.

“We are creating a sense of cohesion for downtown. This pulls it all together,” Vaknin said of connecting East Fremont with the Arts District.

The tenants are the first at the Juhl for DK Las Vegas.

“It’s major. Most of the places will have outdoor seating. The street will become completely activated,” Vaknin said.

Greens and Proteins will have the biggest space with square footage of 3,000. Le Pho has 2,500 square feet. Box Human Landscapers will have the smallest space, but will be the first to open in late March, Vaknin said.

He added the Juhl is 95 percent occupied.

DK Las Vegas also owns the Ogden condominiums in downtown several blocks to the north. DK Las Vegas spent more than $1 million renovating the 275-unit Ogden.

Vaknin said 27 units have been sold at the Ogden, which is transitioning from apartments to condos.

The Ogden also has commercial space on its ground floor, which is leased to Downtown Project.

Vaknin noted the Wild restaurant, which made gluten-free pizza and vegan items, has closed in the Ogden and is being replaced by Itsy Bitsy: Ramen And Whisky, a ramen noodle concept from Corner Bar Management Group.