Spirit Magazine - December 2013 - (Page 94)

W HAT'S INTERESTING about Las Vegas' turnabout is that it's happening so quickly, almost right before our eyes. It was just three years ago that Hsieh announced the move of Zappos' HQ to the urban core. Within a year of that, he announced the formation of the Downtown Project and the planned $350 million investment in education, technology, entertainment, and small business. But why here? Why Vegas? Zappos would have been given the keys to any city in the world when it decided, in 2004, to leave its original home in San Francisco. One factor was the parallel Hsieh sensed between Nevada's tradition of great customer service and Zappos' aspiration to be peerless in customer care. But it's more than that. "Las Vegas has been and always will be the city of possibilities," Hsieh says. "If we can make downtown Las Vegas-a place probably voted Least Likely To Succeed-a place of inspiration, entrepreneurial energy, creativity, innovation, and discovery, hopefully we can inspire other communities and cities to transform themselves as well." Hsieh is more animated than usual as he and Bushnell make their way east on Fremont Street, past Container Park, where the looming praying mantis causes Bushnell to chuckle. Hsieh is talking excitedly about the stores that will open, the kids' play area planned for the middle of it all, and the Bolt Barbers shop that will occupy a restored caboose and boxcar at the back of the park. Then it's on to the Western Hotel and Casino, where Bushnell takes rough measurements of the interior, sizing up its potential to house his Two Bit Circus. Across Fremont is a large lot that will be paved for parking. Bushnell is wide-eyed with amazement. "It feels like a city is being cultivated here, and it feels like there's this whole side of Las Vegas that most people don't know or have never heard of," he says on the phone a few weeks later. "It's exciting." Of course, you hear that a lot when people talk about this place. Gambling, bright lights, and neon have always elicited excitement. But Bushnell's enthusiasm is for the wide-open feel, the sense of a city still being made. There's territory to explore and opportunity to add to the landscape. You still can't swing a yard-long alcoholic drink on the Strip without hitting someone saying, "Vegas, baby, Vegas!" But when you do that downtown these days, you better be careful, and you better bring some energy. The person you plunk might be Hsieh himself. And, really, you don't want to mess with a guy who's in the business of shipping out loafers. Joe Schoenmann writes for the Las Vegas Sun and Las Vegas Weekly. He lives in downtown Las Vegas. IT'S NOT WHAT YOU SAY. IT'S WHAT YOU KNOW. Business is knowledge, not jargon. And a solid foundation of business knowledge starts with a solid education from world class faculty. Offering a selection of graduate certificates as well as open and custom programs, Rice University Executive Education is the next step in your career. W ON ' S AT H YOUR PLATE? RICE.EDU/EE http://www.RICE.EDU/ee http://www.RICE.EDU/ee

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Spirit Magazine - December 2013

Spirit Magazine - December 2013
Contents
Gary's Greeting
Gary's Greeting en Español
Star of the Month
Freedom Story
From the Editor
Your Worlds
Your Pictures
Media Center
Spice up your drink repertoire
Eat Drink Sleep
Cook with chickpeas
Stay Overnight in Nashville
The Numbers
Make a Case for Paper Maps
Look out for Bigfoot
Plan Interplanetary Trek
Wise Guide
Co-opt Criticism
Business
Meet your New Favourite Travel Buddy
Provoke Productivity
Tales of a Tippling City
Rediscover Sin City
The Other Side of Vegas
Your Adventure In Albuquerque
Promotional Series: Spirit of Florida
Focus On: Health Resolutions
Calendar
Fun!
Spotlight
Community Outreach
Products & Services
Flight Services
Terminal Maps
Information
Rapid Rewards and A+ Rewards Partners
Route Map
The "If" List

Spirit Magazine - December 2013