Monday, Jun 4, 2012    Text size: 

LAS VEGAS — The bunny has hopped out of Vegas.

The Las Vegas Playboy Club and Casino at the Palms Casino Resort officially closed its doors yesterday.

In true Playboy fashion the nightspot at the top of the Palm’s Fantasy Tower was shuttered with a private bash last Saturday night.

A statement from the nightclub management firm N9NE (NINE) Group confirmed the permanent closure.

Both Playboy and The Palms said last March that the split was amicable and that both parties planned to "pursue new brand opportunities in Las Vegas nightlife."

But the Palms' Playboy club didn't have the legendary cache' of the brand and apparently didn't resonate strongly enough with the Palms' younger clientle.

N9NE spokeswoman Ashli Kimenker said no plans have yet been announced has been no announcement yet about other plans for the space at the high-rise casino west of the Strip.

But Las Vegas Review-Journal columnist Norm Clarke reported that Palms boss George Maloof said a local VIP who is getting married has bought half the space. "He said he's closing down two Playboys — the club and himself,” Maloof said.

Playboy opened the club in Vegas on October 6, 2006 replete with the iconic bunny head affixed to one of the Palm’s towers. It was the first new club opened by Playboy since 1988.

Since then, Playboy has opened clubs in Macau, Cancun and London that are still operating.