Vegas Magazine - Niche Media - There is a place beyond the crowds, beyond the ropes, where dreams are realized and success is celebrated. You are invited.
Issue link: http://digital.greengale.com/i/260044
Constructed like a gigantic Erector Set, Container Park is a modular collection of stylish shops and cool restaurants, like Pork & Beans, run by Hell's Kitchen's Nona Sivley. Still, as McPhail makes clear, Container Park is not for everyone. It's imperative that a retailer own and operate his or her business, have an entrepreneurial spirit, and "dream big," he says. "Triumph of the City by Edward Glaeser is a book that has inf luenced me. It's about the modern city and the value of urban living when done right. It's had some inf luence on the Downtown Project." He and Hsieh want Container Park to be "a place for people to launch their entrepre- neu r ia l d rea ms in a sig nif ica nt but low-r isk situation," McPhail says. But t h is isn't only a n exper iment for mer - chants. It's also a test to see whether an attractive retail environment can be built inexpensively and sustainably. The containers—which house stores, rest au ra nt s, ba rs, st a irca ses, even a n elevator —have a ll been repu r posed, cont r ib - ut ing to t he spir it of t h is unique place, a n important step in Downtown's evolution. Air- condit ioned a nd su r pr isingly solid, t he st r uc- tures encircle a playground and a grassy hangout space that put the "park" in Container Park, a component t hat 's just a s impor t a nt a s t he money-generat ing ret a il, says McPha il. "My view of the Container Park project is that every community needs a place to congregate, dine, be enter t a ined, or just be. I n Dow ntow n L a s Vega s, t h is is it. People come here a nd t hey have grins on their faces." That was clearly the case for a supplier who visited Vegas to meet with McPhail and wanted to see Cont a iner Pa rk in act ion. Compa red to the grit of Downtown, the place seemed magical to him. "I feel like I'm on something," the guy told McPhail as he took in the park, the kids and parents, the happy vibe all around. "I feel like you gave me some kind of a drug." McPha il ca n relate. He says h is work on Cont a iner Pa rk a nd Dow ntow n Project ha s been a m ind-a lter ing exper ience. "T he best career advice I've been given is 'When you work for somebody, exceed ever y expect at ion a nd seek for the company to be more dependent on you than you are on it.' People go through their ca reers a nd t hey wonder what the purpose is. Is it only about having a better quarter than the last one? Then you come here a nd have a n opportunity to do something truly useful." V continued from page 64 WELL- CONTAINED Just a sampling of our favorite out-of-the-box vendors at Container Park. Alios features a curated selection of lamps and light fixtures in monthly themed exhibits. alios.com Art Box sells handmade items from Las Vegas artists, including jewelry, art glass, kids' clothing, knitted and crocheted wear, and more. artboxdesigns.com LVCK by Vegas Apparel is a streetwear- meets-sportswear boutique, with caps, graphic tees, and casual pieces. lvck.lv Pork & Beans, offering a "fine swine" menu by Kerry Simon, is brought to you by Downtown Cocktail Room's Michael Cornthwaite and run by past Hell's Kitchen winner Nona Sivley. Trikke Las Vegas rents three-wheeled scooters hourly and daily. It also offers guided tours, and sales—in case you get hooked. trikkelasvegas.com Outside Container Park's front entrance, a flame-throwing praying mantis heralds the wonders within. 66 VEGASMAGAZINE.COM THOUGHT LEADER 064-066_V_SP_ThoughtLeader_Winter14.indd 66 2/10/14 5:08 PM