- Home
- >>Entertainment
- >>Entertainment Columns
- >>Kats
Kats
Lost Spirits Distillery at Area15 achieved innovation, but ran in the red too long to survive. (Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Guests at the "20,000 Leagues Under The Sea" tasting room can sip 105-proof whiskey. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
Belly dancers Sabrina Fox, left, and Sara Lyn perform with snakes in the The Seance Room at Lost Spirits Distillery on Sunday, April 2, 2023, in Las Vegas. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
Magician Mondre performs in the The Seance Room at Lost Spirits Distillery on Sunday, April 2, 2023, in Las Vegas. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
Bryan Davis, founder of Lost Spirits, builds all the stills used at his distilleries and tops them with a dragon sculpture. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
The "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" tasting room is designed like the submarine Nautilus from the science fiction adventure classic. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
A tasting room inspired by "20,000 Leagues Under The Sea" is seen during a tour of Lost Spirits Distillery, an immersive experience along with unique tasting rooms for the conctions created by founder Bryan Davis, at Area15 in Las Vegas on Tuesday, July 20, 2021. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
Brewing equipment is seen during a tour of Lost Spirits Distillery, an immersive experience along with unique tasting rooms for the conctions by founder Bryan Davis, at Area15 in Las Vegas on Tuesday, July 20, 2021. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
Barrels are pictured during a tour of Lost Spirits Distillery, an immersive experience along with unique tasting rooms for the conctions by founder Bryan Davis, at Area15 in Las Vegas on Tuesday, July 20, 2021. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
Signage is seen during a tour of Lost Spirits Distillery, an immersive experience along with unique tasting rooms for the conctions by founder Bryan Davis, at Area15 in Las Vegas on Tuesday, July 20, 2021. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
A Victorian-era styled room is seen during a tour of Lost Spirits Distillery, an immersive experience along with unique tasting rooms for the conctions by founder Bryan Davis, at Area15 in Las Vegas on Tuesday, July 20, 2021. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
Bryan Davis, founder of Lost Spirits Distillery, leads an immersive tour at the distillery at Area15 in Las Vegas on Tuesday, July 20, 2021. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
Magician Mondre performs in the The Seance Room at Lost Spirits Distillery on Sunday, April 2, 2023, in Las Vegas. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
More Stories
ByJohn Katsilometes/Las Vegas Review-Journal
April 3, 2024 - 12:49 pm
Updated April 4, 2024 - 5:32 pm
If only cool, innovative and bold concepts could promise profitability.
Lost Spirits Distillery at Area15 achieved innovation, but ran in the red too long to survive. The project that combined fine dining at 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, a rum distillery and Cirque-style side acts is closing April 30. The performers and crew were notified of the decision via e-mail Wednesday morning.
Lost Spirits opened in July 2021, taking over a building just adjacent to Area15’s primary facility.
Lost Spirits co-founder Bryan Davis confirmed the venue’s future Wednesday, after telling the Lost Spirit’s team of the sad reality. He said a total of 91 “amazing staff members” will lose their jobs at the venue.
“In the process of getting the whole thing to profitability, we took on a lot of debt. Add that to the COVID debt and it just became too big to satisfy,” Davis said in text. “It’s a bit sad to see it go after becoming profitable and running 1,000 shows for 250,000 guests. But it was out of my control.”
Prior to moving to Las Vegas Davis and business partner Joanne Haruta launched a distillery in Monterrey, California in 2010. Davis was known to build his own stills, with dragon sculptures topping every one.
Lost Spirits has featured the submarine-fashioned 20,000 Leagues restaurant, with a 16-course tasting menu that led diners though “20,000 Leagues Under The Sea” by chapter. The experience was targeted toward the 21-over set, costing $355 per diner.
Magicians, cabaret-style bands and acrobats populated Lost Spirits’ live-entertainment roster. Guests moved through various, connected lounges, stages and sets. The company described the collected experience: “Like an amusem*nt park for adults.”
A member of that park is veteran Vegas magician Mondre, who performed a side act in The Seance Room, among Lost Spirits’ entertainment enclaves.
Thursday was to be Mondre’s first night back since the cast and staff was informed of the impending shutdown. His fists anniversary at Lost Spirits was March 25.
“Show business is tough,” the entertainer said. “I’m always looking out for the next big thing. Although I’ve got no solid leads on anything right now, I’m confident that something will pop up for me.”
Davis’ e-mail to the Lost Spirits team is also the venue’s epitaph. “I assure you we have been working non-stop to explore every possible option. But in the end, nothing lasts forever.”
John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. His “PodKats!” podcast can be found at reviewjournal.com/podcasts. Contact him at jkatsilometes@reviewjournal.com. Follow @johnnykats on X, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.
MOST READ
'; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += ''; html += 'READ MORE'; html += 'LIVE WELL'; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += 'STORIES LIKE THIS'; html += 'CLICK HERE FOR MORE'; html += ''; html += ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; $('.nlsm-small').addClass('livewell').html(html); return; } if ($('.rj-story-sponsored-full').length>0) { return; } if ($('.rj-story-full').hasClass('tag-2023-year-in-review')) { html = ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += '2023 YEAR IN REVIEW'; html += 'CLICK HERE FOR MORE'; html += ''; html += '
'; $('.nlsm-small').addClass('2023-year-in-review').html(html); return; } if ($('.rj-story-full').hasClass('tag-msg-sphere')) { html = ''; html += '
'; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += '
'; $('.nlsm-small').addClass('tag-msg-sphere').html(html); return; } if ($('.rj-story-full').hasClass('tag-jeff-german-murder') || $('.rj-story-full').hasClass('tag-remembering-jeff-german')) { html = ''; html += '
'; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += '
'; $('.nlsm-small').addClass('jeff_german').html(html); return; } if ($('.rj-story-full').hasClass('tag-911-anniversary')) { html = ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += 'REMEMBERING 9/11: 20 YEARS LATER'; html += 'Looking back at the 2001 terror attacks and how they affected Las Vegas and the world.'; html += 'Read more'; html += ''; html += '
'; $('.nlsm-small').addClass('anniversary-911').html(html); return; } if ($('.rj-story-full').hasClass('tag-class-of-2021')) { html = ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += 'MEET THE UNFORGETTABLE CLASS'; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += '2021'; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += '
'; $('.nlsm-small').addClass('class-2021').html(html); return; } if ($('.rj-story-full').hasClass('tag-2022-election')) { html = ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += 'ELECTION 2022'; html += 'Read more'; html += ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += 'ELECTION RESULTS'; html += 'Click here'; html += ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; $('.nlsm-small').addClass('election-2022').html(html); return; } if ($('.rj-story-full').hasClass('tag-harry-reid-1939-2021')) { html = ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += ''; html += 'Harry Reid(1939-2021)'; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += 'Senate leader and Nevada political titan'; html += 'Read more'; html += ''; html += ''; html += '
'; $('.nlsm-small').addClass('harry-reid').html(html); return; } if ($('.rj-story-full').hasClass('tag-henry-ruggs')) { html = ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += ''; html += 'HENRY RUGGSDEADLY CRASH'; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += 'CLICK FOR MORE'; html += ''; html += ''; html += '
'; $('.nlsm-small').addClass('henry-ruggs').html(html); return; } if ($('.rj-story-full').hasClass('category-homicides')) { html = ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += ''; html += 'HOMICIDE'; html += 'A STORY BEHIND EVERY NAME'; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += 'TRACKER'; html += 'CLICK HERE FOR MORE'; html += ''; html += ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; $('.nlsm-small').addClass('homicides').html(html); return; } if ($('.rj-story-full').hasClass('tag-sheldon-adelson')) { html = ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += ''; html += 'Sheldon Adelson(1933-2021)'; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += 'Las Vegas visionary and Philanthropist.'; html += 'Read more'; html += ''; html += ''; html += '
'; $('.nlsm-small').addClass('sheldon-adelson').html(html); return; } if ($('.rj-story-full').hasClass('tag-tony-hsieh')) { html = ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += ''; html += 'Tony Hsieh(1973-2020)'; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += 'Ex-Zappos and Downtown Project CEO left a lasting impression on Las Vegas.'; html += 'Read more'; html += ''; html += ''; html += '
'; $('.nlsm-small').addClass('tony-hsieh').html(html); return; } if ($('.rj-story-full').hasClass('tag-vegas-weekend')) { //vegas-reawakening html = ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += 'VEGAS REAWAKENING'; html += 'A year after the pandemic began, the first weekend of spring showed a perfect storm of promise for Las Vegas’ recovery and brought optimism that visitors would indeed return to the city'; html += 'Read more'; html += ''; html += '
'; $('.nlsm-small').addClass('vegas-reawakening').html(html); return; } //add newsletters embed var default_category_to_show = ['News', 'Local', 'Life', 'Crime']; var newsletter_1st_lv = []; newsletter_1st_lv['default'] = {'id':'starting_point,pm_update', 'track_name':'StartingPoint', 'title':'LOCAL NEWS YOUR WAY', 'subtitle':'Sign up for our free daily Morning and Afternoon Update newsletters.'}; newsletter_1st_lv['Sports'] = {'id':'sports', 'track_name':'Sports', 'title':'SPORTS NEWS YOUR WAY', 'subtitle':'Sign up for our free daily Sports Update newsletter.'}; newsletter_1st_lv['Business'] = {'id':'business', 'track_name':'Business', 'title':'BUSINESS NEWS YOUR WAY', 'subtitle':'Sign up for our free Business Update newsletter.'}; newsletter_1st_lv['Entertainment'] = {'id':'','alert_id':'entertainment', 'track_name':'Entertainment', 'title':'WANT THE LATEST ON LAS VEGAS ENTERTAINMENT?', 'subtitle':'Sign up for free entertainment email alerts'}; //newsletter_1st_lv['Nevada Preps'] = {'id':'nevada_preps', 'title':'HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS YOUR WAY', 'subtitle':'Stay up to date with our free Nevada Preps newsletter.'}; //newsletter_1st_lv['Investigations'] = {'id':'rj_investigates', 'title':'INVESTIGATIVE NEWS YOUR WAY', 'subtitle':'Sign up for our free RJ Investigates newsletter.'}; var cat_has_subcat = ['News','Business','Entertainment','Sports', 'Opinion']; var newsletter_2nd_lv = []; newsletter_2nd_lv['Politics and Government'] = {'id':'','alert_id':'political', 'track_name':'Political', 'title':'LOCAL, REGIONAL AND NATIONAL POLITICS COVERAGE', 'subtitle':'
Sign up for our free RJ politics email alerts.
'}; //newsletter_2nd_lv['Politics and Government'] = {'id':'political', 'title':'ELECTION 2020: BE INFORMED', 'subtitle':'
FULL COVERAGE | ELECTION RESULTS
Sign up for our free RJ Politics newsletter.
'}; //newsletter_2nd_lv['Debra J. Saunders'] = {'id':'44', 'title':'YOUR WEEKLY POLITICAL FIX', 'subtitle':'Sign up for our free DC-LV newsletter with political stories from the swamp to the Strip.'}; //newsletter_2nd_lv['CES 2021'] = {'id':'ces', 'title':'CES 2021: STAY IN THE KNOW', 'subtitle':'
The Review-Journal is a media partner with the CTA. Click here for full coverage and live video from CES 2021
Sign up for our free newsletter below.'}; //newsletter_2nd_lv['TV'] = {'id':'tv_briefing', 'title':'GET YOUR TV LISTINGS', 'subtitle':'Your Weekly TV Briefing.'}; //newsletter_2nd_lv['UNLV'] = {'id':'unlv_rebel_news', 'title':'UNLV SPORTS YOUR WAY', 'subtitle':'Stay up to date on the Rebels with our free newsletter.'}; newsletter_2nd_lv['Rodeo'] = {'id':'rodeo_nfr', 'track_name':'RodeoNFR', 'title':'RODEO NEWS YOUR WAY', 'subtitle':'Don\'t miss any of the action! Click here for full NFR coverage or Sign up for our free newsletter below'}; newsletter_2nd_lv['Raiders News'] = {'id':'vegasnation', 'track_name':'VegasNation', 'title':'WANT EVEN MORE RAIDERS NEWS?', 'subtitle':'Sign up for our free Vegas Nation newsletter.'}; newsletter_2nd_lv['Golden Knights'] = {'id':'','alert_id':'golden_knights', 'track_name':'GoldenKnights', 'title':'WANT MORE KNIGHTS IN YOUR DAY?', 'subtitle':'Sign up for free Golden Knights email alerts for all the latest updates'}; var main_cat = ''; var m_hierarchy = []; var m_cat = []; var m_hl_cat = ''; if (window.dataLayer[0].metrics) { main_cat = window.dataLayer[0].metrics.section; //National Finals Rodeo m_hierarchy = window.dataLayer[0].metrics.hierarchy.split(' | '); //"Sports | Rodeo | National Finals Rodeo" m_cat = window.dataLayer[0].metrics.categories; //["National Finals Rodeo","Rodeo","Sports"] m_hl_cat = window.dataLayer[0].metrics['hl-category']; //Sports } var i, k, found, newsletter; newsletter = false; found = false; if (default_category_to_show.includes(m_hl_cat)) { newsletter = newsletter_1st_lv['default']; } if (newsletter_1st_lv.hasOwnProperty(m_hl_cat)) { newsletter = newsletter_1st_lv[m_hl_cat]; } // check main category if (newsletter_2nd_lv.hasOwnProperty(main_cat)) { found = true; newsletter = newsletter_2nd_lv[main_cat]; } if (!found) { // check in hierarchy (main category hierarchy) i = m_hierarchy.length; while (!found && i >= 0) { i--; if (i > 0) { if (newsletter_2nd_lv.hasOwnProperty(m_hierarchy[i])) { found = true; newsletter = newsletter_2nd_lv[m_hierarchy[i]]; } } else { // i=0, check first level if (newsletter_1st_lv.hasOwnProperty(m_hierarchy[i])) { found = true; newsletter = newsletter_1st_lv[m_hierarchy[i]]; } } } } if (!found) { // check in category i = m_cat.length; while (!found && i > 0 && cat_has_subcat.includes(m_hl_cat)) { i--; if (newsletter_2nd_lv.hasOwnProperty(m_cat[i])) { found = true; newsletter = newsletter_2nd_lv[m_cat[i]]; } } } if (newsletter !== false && !$('.rj-story-full').hasClass('tag-hide-newsletter') && !$('.rj-story-full').hasClass(' rj-story-sponsored-full')) { var alert_id = ''; if (newsletter.alert_id) { alert_id = newsletter.alert_id; } html = ''; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += '
'+newsletter.title+'
'; html += '
'+newsletter.subtitle+'
'; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += 'By signing up you agree to our Privacy Policy and '; html += 'Terms of Service. Unsubscribe at any time.'; html += '
'; html += '
'; html += 'This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.'; html += '
'; html += '
'; $('.nlsm-small').html(html); } //});})(jQuery);
Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook.
THE LATEST
‘Viva Las Vegas’: Sin City still dancing to Elvis tune after 60 years
ByJohn Katsilometes/RJ
Find out how a bouncy tune — and countless renditions — became the city’s unofficial anthem.
‘Every step was painful’: Ex-RJ columnist relates cancer battle
ByJohn Katsilometes/RJ
Norm Clarke, the pioneer of the RJ’s 3-A celeb column, appears at Hard Rock Cafe on Monday night to talk of his cancer fight.
ByJohn Katsilometes/RJ
Dead & Company jammed for several hours, reviving familiar Grateful Dead imagery in a specatcular stage show.
Copperfield says ‘no case to answer’ in sexual misconduct report
ByJohn Katsilometes/RJ
David Copperfield is denying a published report of sexual misconduct involving more than a dozen women, including some who were teenagers at the time of the alleged behavior.
The place had panache: Remembering Mirage’s glory days
ByJohn Katsilometes/RJ
I met Paul McCartney at The Mirage. Maybe “met” is stretching it. But we did swap greetings in June 2006, as he moved through a party on the pool deck.
Mirage, a landmark Strip resort, prepares to vanish
ByJohn Katsilometes/RJ
The Mirage’s expiration date officially has come into view. The resort is closing to be remade as Hard Rock Las Vegas.
Variety show moving into iconic downtown Las Vegas hotel
ByJohn Katsilometes/RJ
“Mavericks” is an open-ended engagement, the latest version of a show that played Fremont East in 2022.
Mark Davis meets the Stones, says Allegiant ‘absolutely’ can host galas
ByJohn Katsilometes/RJ
Mark Davis was in a gala and Rolling Stones mood after an active weekend in Las Vegas.
Gimme curry? Mick Jagger visits a second famous Las Vegas restaurant
ByJohn Katsilometes/RJ
Rolling Stones lead singer Mick Jagger got a healthy sampling of the Las Vegas restaurant scene while in town for a concert at Allegiant Stadium.
At 80, Mick Jagger sprints through Rolling Stones’ return to Las Vegas
ByJohn Katsilometes/RJ
The man who sang, “Time is on my side,” proved it is, and “What a drag it is, getting old,” proved it doesn’t need to be.
MORE STORIES
'; html += '
' html += '
'+d['title']+'
'; html += '
'; $('.rjp-related .base-'+base+' .field-story').append(html); } }});})(jQuery);
