The Forum Shops at Caesars Announces New Stores, Restaurant

With these openings to look forward to in 2010, The Forum Shops has long enjoyed its plethora of industry firsts. In 1992, Wolfgang Puck became the first celebrity chef to open a restaurant in Las Vegas. Spago's set the trend of world-renowned chefs breaking the city of its stereotypical buffets and midnight specials by bringing California cuisine to guests. Today, Las Vegas is known around the world for having the largest prestigious collection of chefs along the Strip.

For retailers, The Forum Shops at Caesars proved to be a Mecca of sorts for shoppers, being the first to bring the world's most celebrated designers to the destination. Versace, Armani, Dior, Fendi, Valentino, Bulgari, and many more all tell tales of how The Forum Shops was their first location and how today those stores continue to be some of the top producers for sales in their respective companies worldwide.

Coming this summer, for Max Brenner, Chocolate by the Bald Man, chocolate is not just about taste; it also represents romance, sensuality and decadence. A worldwide phenomenon with menu primarily made from chocolate, Max Brenner's location at The Forum Shops will hold the distinction of being the largest at 9,400 square feet. Also to catch the guests' eyes: enormous white vats mixing chocolate that will flow into pipes that run throughout the entire space. The décor will also feature huge bricks, candles, pralines, colorful toy tines and crates overflowing with cocoa beans. Currently, including Las Vegas, there will be 29 total locations, with two in the United States: New York City and Philadelphia.

Las Vegas' first Christian Audigier location will feature his luxury street wear apparel and accessories for men, women and children. The French designer behind the popular rhinestone-encrusted Ed Hardy brand adds to his empire when the store opens this summer.

Now open and new at The Forum Shops, Paradiso for the "ultra-cool shopper." Apparel, handbags and accessories include the latest must-have labels from legendary brands such as True Religion, Rock & Republic, BCBG, Betsey Johnson, and Stuart Weitzman. Irresistible looks ranging from funky fun to outrageous.

Also now open, Marshall Rousso. For more than 30 years, Marshall Rousso has beautifully dressed women who want to look dazzling for a night out on the town, especially in a city like Las Vegas. From glamorous evening wear to hip casual clothing, Marshall Rousso offers remarkable styles to women who appreciate being noticed. The location will include a wide assortment of stylish accessories, including an extensive collection of handbags and an impressive selection of footwear from such shoe designers as J Renee, BCBG Girls, Desario, Chinese Laundry and Onex, among others, add the finishing touches.

When shoppers arrive and experience these new offerings, one of the immediate experiences they will encounter is the ambience. This was the arena shoppers first experienced the fantasy recreation of an ancient Roman Forum streetscape with classic columns and arches whose painted skies reflected the change from sunrise to sunset. Central piazzas also feature ornate fountains and the classic statuary, Fountain of the Gods reflecting that of an ancient forum in towns, where the center was created to be the formal area that led people to the marketplace.

When Phase III expansion debuted in 2004, a three-level, freestanding spiral escalator became the first of its kind in the United States and was designed exclusively for The Forum shops by Mitsubishi.

Another "first": a 50,000-gallon saltwater aquarium stocked with colorful tropical fish located in the Roman Great Hall. Of heroic proportion, the hall is 160 feet in diameter and 85 feet high.

In this same hall is one of two locations where guests can see awe-inspiring statues that come to life. Today, these statues are a "must see" for Las Vegas visitors of all ages. The Atlantis Show has more than 400 moving parts in each of the characters.

As for the Festival Fountain statues, Bacchus hosts a party for Forum Shops visitors with assistance from Apollo, Venus and Plutus. Each character adds their special talent to the festivities, accompanied by music, sound effects, animatronics and special scenic projections on the dome and computerized waterscape effects.