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.