Roughly 3,600 VIPs were invited to the grand opening of the new Fontainebleau Las Vegas, a project nearly 20 years in the making that came to fruition on Wednesday, Dec. 13. Here’s what went down inside what COO Colleen Birch calls “the party of the year.”
Justin Timberlake takes his chances at the craps table as Fontainebleau Development CEO and Chairman Jeffrey Soffer, Tom Brady, COO Colleen Birch and Cher, among others, look on. PHOTO BY DENISE TRUSCELLO/GETTY IMAGES FOR FONTAINEBLEAU LAS VEGAS
The new Fontainebleau Las Vegas, a glittering 67-story tower just north of Wynn Las Vegas, officially opened its doors at 11:45 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 13, but its bow-tie-clad halls were already buzzing early that morning in anticipation of the night’s official grand opening party. VEGAS magazine was on the scene on the “bleau” carpet as A-list celebrities and the team behind Fontainebleau Las Vegas strutted their stuff.
“The Fontainebleau era in Las Vegas begins now,” shared Fontainebleau Development Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Soffer. “This magnificent resort is a testament to our 70-year commitment to excellence, a catalyst that will change the way the world views luxury hospitality and design on the Strip.”
Logan Soffer, Summer Soffer, Madison Soffer, Jeffrey Soffer and Colleen Schiff; PHOTO BY BRYAN STEFFY/GETTY IMAGES FOR FONTAINEBLEAU LAS VEGAS
Soffer was joined by his father Don Soffer, whose development firm Turnberry Associates purchased the Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami in 2005, his children and his fiancé Colleen Schiff on the blue carpet. Soffer’s colleagues, David Grutman and David “Papi” Einhorn of Groot Hospitality, were also there to celebrate. Famous for their Miami nightlife venues, the duo will now give Las Vegas’ best steakhouses and nightclubs a run for their money with the debut of Komodo, Papi Steak and LIV Las Vegas at Fontainebleau.
Groot Hospitality's David Grutman and David "Papi" Einhorn; PHOTO BY JON KOPALOFF/GETTY IMAGES FOR FONTAINEBLEAU LAS VEGAS
Soffer, Grutman and Einhorn’s A-list friends donned their black-tie best to support the moguls. Spotted on the blue carpet were NFL great Tom Brady, musical icon Cher, business titan Ivanka Trump, Breaking Bad stars Aaron Paul and Bryan Cranston, LIV’s inaugural DJ John Summit, rockstar Lenny Kravitz, fashion legend Tommy Hilfiger and movie star Sylvester Stallone, among others.
Tom Brady; PHOTO BY JON KOPALOFF/GETTY IMAGES FOR FONTAINEBLEAU LAS VEGAS
Aaron Paul and Bryan Cranston; PHOTO BY JON KOPALOFF/GETTY IMAGES FOR FONTAINEBLEAU LAS VEGAS
Ivanka Trump; PHOTO BY DENISE TRUSCELLO/GETTY IMAGES FOR FONTAINEBLEAU LAS VEGAS
Sylvester Stallone and Jennifer Flavin; PHOTO BY JON KOPALOFF/GETTY IMAGES FOR FONTAINEBLEAU LAS VEGAS
While cameras flashed as the stars mingled, a surprise performance by four-time Grammy Award winner Keith Urban drew partygoers to the casino’s Bleau Bar. Under the venue’s monolithic chandelier, Urban sang “Blue Ain’t Your Color” and “Wasted Time” on a rotating stage as a kickoff to the night’s anticipated performances.
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Guests filled the casino floor to watch Keith Urban perform at Bleau Bar. PHOTO BY VIVIEN KILLILEA/GETTY IMAGES FOR FONTAINEBLEAU LAS VEGAS
Keith Urban; PHOTO BY VIVIEN KILLILEA FOR GETTY IMAGES/FONTAINEBLEAU LAS VEGAS
Upstairs, paparazzi mainstays Kim Kardashian and Kendall Jenner, along with Eva Longoria, Michael Bay and Anitta, joined Grutman for a first taste of Komodo, a Southeast Asian-inspired concept, and Papi Steak, Einhorn’s swanky steakhouse. The presentation of Papi Steak’s signature Beefcase, a 55-ounce wagyu tomahawk housed in a shimmering, gold-lined attaché, gave guests a lasting impression of what’s to come for Vegas’ hottest new restaurant.
Kim Kardashian; PHOTO BY DAVID BECKER/GETTY IMAGES FOR FONTAINEBLEAU LAS VEGAS
Kendall Jenner; PHOTO BY DAVID BECKER/GETTY IMAGES FOR FONTAINEBLEAU LAS VEGAS
After imbibing and exploring myriad Fontainebleau dining concepts—from Roadside Taco and Chez Bon Bon to Miami Slice and Don’s Prime—guests were welcomed into the BleauLive Theater by feather-festooned showgirls.
Jennifer Flavin with Tommy and Dee Hilfiger; PHOTO BY BRYAN STEFFY/GETTY IMAGES FOR FONTAINEBLEAU LAS VEGAS
Fontainebleau Development President Bret Mufson and Soffer greeted the crowd before introducing legendary singer-songwriter Paul Anka. A close friend of Frank Sinatra and the last surviving member of the Rat Pack, Anka had the audience singing along to “My Way,” which he wrote and pitched to Sinatra at Miami’s Fontainebleau.
Paul Anka at BleauLive Theater; PHOTO BY VIVIEN KILLILEA/GETTY IMAGES FOR FONTAINEBLEAU LAS VEGAS
Finally, 10-time Grammy Award winner Justin Timberlake was revealed as the night’s headlining performer, who took the crowd through a 70-minute set. Dressed in a white tuxedo jacket, Timberlake proved he still has all the moves that made him famous, gliding across the floor to “SexyBack,” “Like I Love You,” “Rock Your Body,” and “My Love,” among many hits. His wife, actress Jessica Biel, looked on, as did Tom Brady, Kim Kardashian and Cher. Timberlake even led the crowd in singing “Happy Birthday” to Jeffrey Soffer, whose big day coincided with the Fontainebleau Las Vegas grand opening.
Justin Timberlake; PHOTO BY DENISE TRUSCELLO/GETTY IMAGES FOR FONTAINEBLEAU LAS VEGAS
Justin Timberlake brought down the house at BleauLive Theater with a surprise performance. PHOTO BY BRYAN STEFFY/GETTY IMAGES FOR FONTAINEBLEAU LAS VEGAS
It was a celebratory night for Jeffrey Soffer, whose birthday coincided with Fontainebleau Las Vegas' grand opening party. PHOTO BY BRYAN STEFFY/GETTY IMAGES FOR FONTAINEBLEAU LAS VEGAS
After the energetic performance, the party crowd descended upon LIV Las Vegas, where DJ Peggy Gou manned the turntables. Lenny Kravitz rubbed elbows with the DJ, with whom he recently released “I Believe in Love Again.” Timberlake, Biel, Kardashian, Jenner and Bridgerton darling Phoebe Dynevor were also spotted in the DJ booth after-hours.
Stay tuned for more coverage of Fontainebleau’s grand opening as DJ John Summit kicks off his LIV Las Vegas residency on Thursday, Dec. 14. Cheers!
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