Downtown Las Vegas isn't exactly known for being a technology hub, or even really a new business hub. Its economy has been relatively stagnant for many years now (some would say since the 60's!). But the CEO of Zappos.com is pushing to develop a high-tech business incubator there. Tony Hsieh says he is in talks with several Silicon Valley tech firms to possibly move their operations to a business incubator. An incubator that Zappos would build on land they've recently leased near the old Las Vegas City Hall, Zappos's new headquarters building.According to Hsieh:
"It’s all about creating an environment that appeals to the creative class and creating more serendipitous interactions among employees and the community.... It’s important that the bars are non-gaming. we’re not looking to draw more tourists, we’re looking to build up more of a community among locals."
The tech wiz believes that if Downtown Vegas can create a fun, lively, cool, and comfortable atmosphere for locals it can attract tech companies from the San Francisco area. That would seriously help the economies of Las Vegas and Southern Nevada as a whole, not to mention seriously liven up "Old Las Vegas"!
We don't know about the whole "non-gaming" thing -- this is Las Vegas after all and locals (like us) actually love our video poker bars. But the rest of the idea sounds great. There's really no reason why the Fremont area Downtown can't turn itself into a mini technology hub within the next few years!
Learn some mo': Zappos CEO floats idea of downtown high-tech business incubator
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