On the Corner of Main Street

Jonathan and Gary welcome back Lisa Melmed—original co-host and founder of On the Corner of Main Street. She recaps moving from the Plaza to Fontainebleau before it opened, serving as Brand Marketing Director, helping build the marketing infrastructure from the ground up, and being part of the opening team for the 3,604-room resort and its many restaurants and lounges. Lisa compares working downtown vs. the Strip, discusses how layers and budgets affect decision-making, and reflects on how social media and influencers have evolved into a search-driven business tool. She also shares favorite Fontainebleau venues, talks about loving the "opening" experience, and says she's exploring new hospitality/marketing opportunities while staying open to returning downtown—including guest hosting the podcast again.

Jonathan and Gary sit down with Scott Roeben (Vital Vegas) for a wide-ranging conversation about the big headlines shaping Las Vegas, where the city is headed, and what insiders are hearing. They discuss major casino-company deal chatter, takeaways from the gaming expo, and how casino design choices can affect the guest experience. The conversation also touches on the A's stadium debate, a softer summer and what it means (or doesn't), and a recent entertainment headline involving a longtime Strip performer. They wrap with updates on new concepts and changes coming to Plaza, plus quick thoughts on other future sports and development possibilities.

Jonathan and Gary welcome back Governor Joe Lombardo, a repeat guest who previously appeared as Clark County Sheriff and is now running for re-election. Lombardo discusses his approach to public speaking and leadership, growing up in Vegas, and how COVID-era decisions motivated his run for governor. He explains how the Safe Streets and Neighborhood Act has reduced property and violent crime and comments on downtown's improved environment and investment. Lombardo gives an in-depth update on Southern Nevada's water situation, the expiring Colorado River Compact, plus desalination credits. The conversation also covers Vegas as a sports destination (NBA expansion talks, A's stadium progress), economic and education metrics, healthcare improvements, affordable housing efforts, and his message to voters to participate in elections.

Jonathan and Gary return after a three-month summer break with a twist. They recap Jonathan's summer travels and discuss competition from regional casinos, including the Wynn in Boston, plus whether "Vegas is dead," noting slower summer demand, higher gas prices, and concerns about gambling tax rules affecting sports bettors. They cover Las Vegas developments like the Hard Rock guitar build and the A's stadium construction, and emphasize the need to keep Vegas a fun, value-driven destination beyond big events. At the Plaza, they highlight Friday "Welcome to the Weekend" fireworks, the new high-limit room with 53 new slot games, Five Guys progress, a new wedding chapel, and a Carousel Bar wedding package that's selling strongly.

In this episode of On the Corner of Main Street, Jonathan and Gary share property updates—including passing 500,000 podcast downloads, EDC expanding to two weekends, the return of Friday-night summer fireworks, and plans for a new high-limit slots area—before spotlighting Oscar's Steakhouse general manager Chad Jahn ("Big Bad Chad"). Chad talks about moving to Las Vegas as a child, starting in restaurants young, graduating from UNLV, and building his hospitality career through Steve Wynn-era properties (Golden Nugget, Mirage, Bellagio), including celebrity-service stories, before spending 11 years at Ferraro's and a stint at Emmitt's. He explains his approach to leading a veteran team, the guest journey standards he enforces, and what makes Oscar's stand out—its history, service, value, and signature dishes—plus a brief call-in from Oscar Goodman.

In this episode, Jonathan and Gary welcome architect Paul Steelman, founder/CEO of Steelman Partners, to discuss his career shaping casino resorts worldwide. Steelman recounts starting in Atlantic City after casino gambling was approved in 1976, meeting Joel Bergman and Steve Wynn, and working on Golden Nugget Atlantic City and The Mirage. He shares major international projects such as Sands Macao, Solaire (Philippines), Ho Tram (Vietnam), and casinos across Europe, plus design myths about casinos. The conversation covers Circa's design choices, Resorts World's long development and scaled-back vision, and Steelman's view that Las Vegas is losing magic through generic LED "boxes" and monetized "obstacle courses," while praising the Sphere and anticipating the Mirage guitar redevelopment.

Jonathan and Gary welcome back Tao Group co-CEO Jason Strauss. Strauss looks back on his 2021 predictions—from the Sphere to the Arts District—while breaking down why Vegas is still growing despite the noise online. He also teases what's next, including a new Omnia Dayclub opening during EDC weekend, and shares a simple rule: know every role before you lead.

Jonathan and Gary interview nightlife and marketing executive Ronn Nicolli, now leading marketing and guest experience for the Meruelo Group at Sahara. Ronn discusses his new role and efforts to add cultural relevance while leaning into Sahara's 75-year history, including work with Las Vegas archives, hosting Sammy Davis Jr.'s family, and gifting Mike Tyson a framed historic Sahara boxing photo. He reflects on North Strip dynamics and why nearby resorts' success matters for foot traffic, then traces his path from Ohio to Vegas, early jobs, and rise from street promoter at Wynn to major nightlife projects like Tryst and XS, sharing lessons about brand identity, detail, and wow factor from Steve Wynn. He closes with advice on taking risks, hard work, and mentoring the next generation in hospitality.

Jonathan joins Andrew on the HeyBigHead Show as a special guest, sharing his journey to Las Vegas, insights into running a casino, perspectives on leadership, and his vision for the future of the Plaza Hotel & Casino. Tune in for an inside look at the industry—and don't forget to check out the HeyBigHead Show on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube!

Jonathan and Gary introduce the newly launched Vegas Live Casino Network with partner Stephan Shelanski, a TV and sports-betting media veteran who helped build VSiN. They explain the concept: a smoke-free, streamer-friendly casino area with blackjack, single-zero roulette, baccarat, and about 45 slots, broadcasting six hours of live action daily on YouTube plus a 30–45 minute highlight recap, letting guests share a QR code so friends can watch them play. Vegas Pauly C joins to discuss bringing players, his experience streaming at Venetian, why audiences watch live gambling, and the importance of engaging dealers and big swings. They also touch on Vegas economics, casino pricing, and operator-driven guest experience.