{"id":347537,"date":"2025-08-30T21:15:11","date_gmt":"2025-08-31T02:15:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/2025\/08\/30\/popular-carlosn-charlies-mexican-restaurant-to-close-as-part-of-flamingo-master-plan\/"},"modified":"2025-08-30T21:15:11","modified_gmt":"2025-08-31T02:15:11","slug":"popular-carlosn-charlies-mexican-restaurant-to-close-as-part-of-flamingo-master-plan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/2025\/08\/30\/popular-carlosn-charlies-mexican-restaurant-to-close-as-part-of-flamingo-master-plan\/","title":{"rendered":"Popular Carlos’n Charlie’s Mexican Restaurant to Close as Part of Flamingo “Master Plan”"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\n By Scott Roeben<\/a>, on August 30 2025 <\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

A popular and well-loved fixture on the Las Vegas Strip, Carlos\u2019n Charlie\u2019s at Flamingo, has been given what amounts to an eviction notice.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve learned exclusively Flamingo\u2019s owner, Caesars Entertainment, has given Carlos\u2019n Charlie\u2019s notice it\u2019s terminating the restaurant\u2019s lease early, which means the restaurant and bar will close in early 2026.<\/p>\n

The \u201cmaster plan\u201d calls for replacing the lively venue with slot machines, presumably because slots will generate more revenue than rent from the restaurant. This news turns our \u201csuccessful things don\u2019t close in Las Vegas\u201d rule on its head. Let\u2019s dive more deeply into this steaming pile of nachos, shan\u2019t we?<\/p>\n

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Cue the guitarr\u00f3n plunk, the mariachi equivalent of a sad trombone.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Carlos\u2019n Charlie\u2019s is a Mexican restaurant and bar and party spot. It opened at Flamingo on April 18, 2012.<\/p>\n

While there have been critics of the restaurant\u2019s \u201cMexican\u201d food, management has always handled the criticism with grace and humor as the money kept rolling in.<\/p>\n

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We are a huge fan of self-deprecating humor as a way to regulate ego inflation, discharge latent anxiety and create a parasocial bond by signaling vulnerability while still maintaining control of the narrative.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We like one of their dishes so much, our endorsement is on the menu.<\/p>\n

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Our friends at Carlos\u2019n Charlie\u2019s have a new menu.
We LOL\u2019d. (Reminder: We have no business relationship with any casino, restaurant or other Vegas entity, nor have we ever done paid\/sponsored posts. We share things we like.) @CncharliesLV<\/a> @FlamingoVegas<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/LEPqy8mXXB<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Vital Vegas (@VitalVegas) March 21, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Carlos\u2019n Charlie\u2019s has been rated the #1 Mexican restaurant in Las Vegas for at least a year. It\u2019s not for everyone, but for the people who love it, they really love it.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a popular spot for wedding receptions (the restaurant hosts more than 100 wedding receptions a year, the Flamingo\u2019s chapel is a few feet away) and bachelorette parties, corporate events and myriad other gatherings.<\/p>\n

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Just a typical day at Carlos\u2019n Charlie\u2019s.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The restaurant is an unmitigated success, reportedly generating $14 million a year, making it a rare breed in the restaurant business. The restaurant averages 1,000 covers (you know, customers) a day.<\/p>\n

All that said, after crunching the numbers, Caesars Entertainment has decided to kick the restaurant out.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s an internal communication sent to employees of Carlos\u2019n Charlie\u2019s Las Vegas.<\/p>\n

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Havana 1957 is tanking. Maybe move Carlos\u2019n Charlie\u2019s into that space?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In the simplest terms, slots generate more revenue than rent.<\/p>\n

This decision follows a pattern that was evident when chairs in Flamingo\u2019s sportsbook were removed and replaced by slot machines. The sportsbook space is right next to Carlos\u2019n Charlie\u2019s.<\/p>\n

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Update: You can almost see Flamingo\u2019s sportsbook over the tops of the slots that replaced all the chairs. We love the direction Caesars Ent. is going! (h\/t @JamesInLasVegas<\/a>) pic.twitter.com\/e6rZasMdoL<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Vital Vegas (@VitalVegas) April 19, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Based simply upon the numbers, the rationale behind booting a tenant seems sound, but it\u2019s also short-sighted.<\/p>\n

First, the restaurant employs about 100 people.<\/p>\n

Second, Carlos\u2019n Charlie\u2019s is a destination restaurant and bar for lots of visitors. It\u2019s a whole vibe. It generates energy (sometimes too much, as they\u2019ve recently started playing music at a deafening level into the casino) and really does feel like the \u201cheartbeat\u201d of Flamingo.<\/p>\n

Third, casinos need more personality, not less. Slot machines aren\u2019t market differentiators. Popular restaurants and nightlife spots are.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s clear the owners and management of Carlos\u2019n Charlie\u2019s would like to stay, but it sounds like the process of looking for another location may have already begun.<\/p>\n

If the rent\u2019s too low, why not just raise it and see if Carlos\u2019n Charlie\u2019s is up for it? It\u2019s baffling. Then again, we are not a giant casino company with a crapload of debt and a painfully low stock price.<\/p>\n

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Flair is king at Carlos\u2019n Charlie\u2019s. Hangovers are queen, but mostly that flair thing.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

All we know is we\u2019ve never had a bad time at Carlos\u2019n Charlie\u2019s. The staff seems genuinely interested in being there, and the irreverent humor (including the restaurant decor) and sassy social media are unique in Las Vegas. (Unless you count the intentionally rude service at Dick\u2019s Last Resort, and that gets old quick.) No, it\u2019s not \u201cauthentic Mexican food,\u201d but it doesn\u2019t claim to be gourmet anything.<\/p>\n

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Finally, a fee we can get behind.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It\u2019s drunk food at reasonable prices, at least compared to other restaurants on The Strip.<\/p>\n

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Congrats to Carlos’n Charlie’s for operating @FlamingoVegas<\/a> since 2012 without going bust. @CncharliesLV<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/jfMjcHT3hx<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Vital Vegas (@VitalVegas) January 31, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

This news has truly bummed us out, and we\u2019re hoping there will be some kind of divine intervention to alter the direction things are going.<\/p>\n

Other resorts would love to get their hands on Carlos\u2019n Charlie\u2019s, but moving is an expensive pain in the ass, especially when the venue is such a good fit at Flamingo.<\/p>\n

As the kids say, pinches bean counters.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n