Lance Johns poses for a portrait inside the garage he is currently renovating into Atomic Kitchen, immediately next door to Atomic Liquors, in Downtown Las Vegas on Friday, Jan. 15, 2016. His project is experiencing pushback from local residents and church leaders who fear the project‘s potential impacts. Daniel Clark/Las vegas Review-Journal Follow @DanJClarkPhoto
Lance Johns poses for a portrait inside the garage he is currently renovating into Atomic Kitchen, immediately next door to Atomic Liquors, in Downtown Las Vegas on Friday, Jan. 15, 2016. His project is experiencing pushback from local residents and church leaders who fear the project‘s potential impacts. Daniel Clark/Las vegas Review-Journal Follow @DanJClarkPhoto
Lance Johns poses for a portrait outside the garage he is currently renovating into Atomic Kitchen, immediately next door to Atomic Liquors, in Downtown Las Vegas on Friday, Jan. 15, 2016. His project is experiencing pushback from local residents and church leaders who fear the project‘s potential impacts. Daniel Clark/Las vegas Review-Journal Follow @DanJClarkPhoto
Lance Johns explains how renovations for Atomic Kitchen will work outside the garage immediately next door to Atomic Liquors, in Downtown Las Vegas on Friday, Jan. 15, 2016. His project is experiencing pushback from local residents and church leaders who fear the project‘s potential impacts. Daniel Clark/Las vegas Review-Journal Follow @DanJClarkPhoto
Lance Johns explains how renovations for Atomic Kitchen will work inside the garage immediately next door to Atomic Liquors in Downtown Las Vegas on Friday, Jan. 15, 2016. His project is experiencing pushback from local residents and church leaders who fear the project‘s potential impacts. Daniel Clark/Las vegas Review-Journal Follow @DanJClarkPhoto
Lance Johns poses for a portrait inside the garage he is currently renovating into Atomic Kitchen, immediately next door to Atomic Liquors, in Downtown Las Vegas on Friday, Jan. 15, 2016. His project is experiencing pushback from local residents and church leaders who fear the project‘s potential impacts. Daniel Clark/Las vegas Review-Journal Follow @DanJClarkPhoto
The garage Lance Johns is currently renovating into Atomic Kitchen, immediately next door to Atomic Liquors, is seen in Downtown Las Vegas on Friday, Jan. 15, 2016. His project is experiencing pushback from local residents and church leaders who fear the project‘s potential impacts. Daniel Clark/Las vegas Review-Journal Follow @DanJClarkPhoto
Lance Johns looks over renovations for Atomic Kitchen, inside the garage immediately next door to Atomic Liquors, in Downtown Las Vegas on Friday, Jan. 15, 2016. His project is experiencing pushback from local residents and church leaders who fear the project‘s potential impacts. Daniel Clark/Las vegas Review-Journal Follow @DanJClarkPhoto
The Rev. Stephen Smith submitted this appeal letter to the city of Las Vegas, appealing a city Planning Commission decision to recommend approval of a special use permit for the Atomic Kitchen tavern-restaurant next to Atomic Liquors on Fremont Street. From city of Las Vegas.
Lance Johns explains how renovations for Atomic Kitchen will work inside the garage immediately next door to Atomic Liquors in Downtown Las Vegas on Friday, Jan. 15, 2016. His project is experiencing pushback from local residents and church leaders who fear the project´s potential impacts. Daniel Clark/Las vegas Review-Journal Follow @DanJClarkPhoto
Lance Johns poses for a portrait inside the garage he is currently renovating into Atomic Kitchen, immediately next door to Atomic Liquors, in Downtown Las Vegas on Friday, Jan. 15, 2016. His project is experiencing pushback from local residents and church leaders who fear the projectþÃôs potential impacts. Daniel Clark/Las vegas Review-Journal Follow @DanJClarkPhoto
Lance Johns walks toward the garage he is currently renovating into Atomic Kitchen, immediately next door to Atomic Liquors, in Downtown Las Vegas on Friday, Jan. 15, 2016. His project is experiencing pushback from local residents and church leaders who fear the project´s potential impacts. Daniel Clark/Las vegas Review-Journal Follow @DanJClarkPhoto
Lance Johns stands outside the garage he is currently renovating into Atomic Kitchen, immediately next door to Atomic Liquors, in Downtown Las Vegas on Friday, Jan. 15, 2016. His project is experiencing pushback from local residents and church leaders who fear the project‘s potential impacts. Daniel Clark/Las vegas Review-Journal Follow @DanJClarkPhoto
The garage Lance Johns is currently renovating into Atomic Kitchen, immediately next door to Atomic Liquors, is seen in Downtown Las Vegas on Friday, Jan. 15, 2016. His project is experiencing pushback from local residents and church leaders who fear the project´s potential impacts. Daniel Clark/Las vegas Review-Journal Follow @DanJClarkPhoto
The Las Vegas City Council on Wednesday approved a special-use permit for Atomic Liquors owner Lance Johns to develop a restaurant next-door called Atomic Kitchen on East Fremont Street.
The permit approval came over the objections of some local landowners and church leaders who said the new eatery will add to the noise problems in the gentrifying neighborhood.
The council voted 5-1 to approve, with Mayor Carolyn Goodman absent for a U.S. Conference of Mayors event.
Johns plans to spend nearly $1 million on renovating a 1940s-era garage next to Atomic Liquors into the restaurant, which he hopes to open in April. The garage was the setting for the mob meeting scenes in the movie “Casino.”
Downtown Project’s Todd Kessler was the official applicant for the special-use permit. Tony Hsieh’s Downtown Project, a $350 million downtown redevelopment initiative, owns the Atomics Liquors and Atomic Kitchen site of just barely less than a third of an acre. Johns owns Atomic Liquors and is building the restaurant.
Local church leaders, land owners and some residents have complained that Downtown Project’s developments, events and business tenants are causing noise problems in a neighborhood that is experiencing more entertainment and music businesses.
Contact reporter Alan Snel at asnel@reviewjournal.com Find him on Twitter: @BicycleManSnel