New York-New York sign headed for Neon Boneyard

Workers on Tuesday removed signage from the New York-New York that had greeted visitors to the Strip casino since the property opened in 1997.

But the 30-foot gold-border neon reader board, marquee and canopy won’t disappear forever.

The signage was taken down in three sections and will be reassembled at the Neon Museum in downtown Las Vegas to become part of the Neon Boneyard.

At 14 years old, the sign might be the youngest item at the attraction.

“It’s a beautiful sign,” said New York-New York President Cynthia Kiser Murphey of the company’s first donation to the museum. “We’re excited it’s part of the Boneyard.”

The removal by workers from Young Electric Sign Co. was in conjunction with development of MGM Resorts International’s $100 million retail, dining and entertainment district. The project is under construction between New York-New York and the Monte Carlo.

The outdoor promenade will eventually lead into the company’s planned $350 million sports and entertainment arena that will be built behind the two resorts.

Construction will take place on an all-new exterior facade at the southeast corner of New York-New York. Murphey said nine different access points into New York-New York are being created as part of the outdoor district, which is creating a “pedestrian environment.”

The area where the sign was located near the casino’s Brooklyn Bridge and Strip entrance is being transformed to create outdoor patio seating for the Nine Fine Irishmen pub and the Hershey’s Chocolate World, an anchor attraction within the district that will occupy 13,000 square feet inside New York-New York.

Hersey’s Chocolate World will feature an 18-foot-tall replica of a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup and other over-sized candy brands. In December, New York-New York added three new shops — I Love NYNY, Swatch and Stupidiotic —as well as a Starbucks location.

Other new shops are expected to open in the spring.

Hershey’s Chocolate World is a central feature in MGM Resort’s plans for the 63-acre outdoor plaza and arena area. The attraction is expected to open in the spring.

Other attractions include Shake Shack, a New York-based “roadside” hamburger and hot dog stand developed by Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group. It will open its first location west of Mississippi River at the gateway to the outdoor park. The park itself will have dining pavilions and performance spaces.

The Monte Carlo’s European facade will be replaced with Double Barrel, a roadhouse-style bar and restaurant being developed by SBE Entertainment, and a Sambalatte Coffee House. Diablo’s Cantina will remain in its current location.

Contact reporter Howard Stutz at hstutz@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3871. Follow @howardstutz on Twitter.