LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — A popular downtown Las Vegas attraction, known for its electronic cattle scale facing the Fremont Street Experience, is closing its doors.
The Heart Attack Grill, located inside Neonopolis, has shut down after choosing not to renew its long-term lease, citing rising costs across Las Vegas.
Owner Jon Basso posted a passionate message online Monday, saying a changing landscape and corporate greed have “priced the middle class person out of the opportunity of visiting Las Vegas.”
Neonopolis owner Rohit Joshi confirmed the closure, also noting that times have changed with tourism is down and expenses being so high.
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The Heart Attack Grill opened its only Las Vegas location in 2011 after relocating from Arizona. The restaurant became known for its hospital-themed gimmicks, including waitresses dressed as nurses and paddle-spanking guests who didn’t finish their food.
Customers weighing more than 350 pounds could also eat for free, and anyone who finished the “Triple” or “Quadruple Bypass Burger” was placed in a wheelchair and escorted out by their “personal nurse.”
Despite the closure, Basso says he’s looking to relocate the Heart Attack Grill elsewhere.
“Our customers have always been good regular people who just want to laugh a little louder than is normally permitted.
For 21 years, we’ve helped them laugh.
Corporate greed has priced the middle class person out of the opportunity of visiting Las Vegas. We will move the Heart Attack Grill elsewhere.”
Basso also told FOX5:
“This is not to say that I don’t love the good people of Las Vegas, because I do. For the last six years, I have run another restaurant on the north west side of town and have developed great friendships with all of the locals. In fact, our restaurant is very successful and I am currently under construction building a second location on Cheyanne by the North Las Vegas airport.
I really have nothing further to say, because I certainly do not mean to bash Las Vegas. But I absolutely mean to admonish the shortsighted business practices of the major corporations who control the casinos and set a ridiculous price tempo.
My great grandparents lived in Las Vegas, my grandparents, used to enjoy coming here, my parents used to enjoy come in here.
Unfortunately, under today’s new paradigm, they all would’ve been priced out. This madness of a $22 bottle of water has got to stop.”
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