Music

Sources: Downtown Project to hand over Bunkhouse control to owners of Commonwealth and Park

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The revamped Bunkhouse’s new enclosed outdoor area.
Photo: Spencer Burton

The Weekly has learned from multiple sources that Downtown Project is close to finalizing a deal that would hand over control of its crown jewel music venue, the Bunkhouse Saloon, to the group behind Wendoh Media, which also operates Fremont East venues Commonwealth and Park on Fremont.

If completed, it would mark a significant course reversal for Downtown Project, which purchased the Bunkhouse for $1.4 million last year, then spent months razing most of the old building and constructing it anew. It would also come on the heels of September’s DTP downsizing, in which some 30 employees were laid off and several non-revenue-generating programs were cut.

When reached today, a spokesperson for Downtown Project said only, “There’s no information we can share on it at this time.”

The sources, who spoke on the condition that their names not be used, explained that DTP would retain ownership of the land and the renovated venue, which has been open just 10 weeks. No specific word yet on what the operational takeover would mean for the Bunkhouse’s current staff, which is employed outside the Downtown Project umbrella, or for the 250-capacity venue’s booking strategy, which has thus far focused on the Valley’s local music scene and on the kinds of touring artists that tend to bypass Las Vegas (Bob Mould, The Breeders, African group Tinariwen).

Those programming choices—along with a revamped food and beverage program and a new enclosed outdoor area—have helped the Bunkhouse earn critical acclaim throughout its short second lifespan. Upcoming bookings include indie band Blonde Redhead on November 14, hip-hop producer RJD2 on November 21 and tonight’s Tom Petty tribute night, featuring Vegas acts covering songs from Petty’s catalog.

Wendoh's ownership group is preparing to open a new venue, the Wheel House, in the space just north of the Bunkhouse on 11th Street. Wendoh Media publishes Vegas Seven and Vegas Rated magazines.

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