{"id":47629,"date":"2026-07-03T02:07:42","date_gmt":"2026-07-03T09:07:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/vitalvegas\/?p=47629"},"modified":"2026-07-03T02:13:10","modified_gmt":"2026-07-03T09:13:10","slug":"jazz-club-youve-never-heard-of-fat-cat-closes-at-downtown-grand","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/vitalvegas\/jazz-club-youve-never-heard-of-fat-cat-closes-at-downtown-grand\/","title":{"rendered":"Jazz Club You’ve Never Heard Of, Fat Cat, Closes at Downtown Grand"},"content":{"rendered":"

A little-known jazz and blues club located inside a commercial Bermuda Triangle at Downtown Grand, Fat Cat, has closed.<\/p>\n

Fat Cat opened in fall 2023<\/a> (we broke the story, naturally) and surprised everyone by staying in operation as long as it did, a smidge less than three years. Prior to Fat Cat, the no-man’s-land location was home to the Delirious Comedy Club. Before that, it was Mob Bar.<\/p>\n

The official announcement of the closure included the line, “As the neighborhood continues through a period of transition and uncertainty, we’re committed to keeping the spirit and music of Fat Cat alive.” Translation: Downtown Grand is in receivership and the ongoing shitshow is making an impossible task even more impossibler.<\/p>\n

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The owners of Fat Cat seem like such nice folks, we almost feel guilty for pointing out the fact their aggressively amateurish Fat Cat logo looks like someone with tremors lost a fight with Microsoft Paint.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Fat Cat was operated by husband-and-wife team Russell Gardner and Natalie Burge, the folks behind Red Dwarf (a tiki-inspired dive that serves a popular pizza) and Grey Witch (a weird, theatrical bar\/music venue in Vegas-adjacent Henderson).<\/p>\n

They shared news of the closure on Instagram<\/a>. (Instagram’s slogan: “Still cheaper than distributing a news release.”)<\/p>\n

The message said, “It is extremely bittersweet to announce that after three incredible years, our Fat Cat location has closed its doors. To our Fat Cat team, thank you. Your dedication and care brought this space to life and gave every night its spark. To our musicians, guests, and neighbors, thank you for embracing Fat Cat. The sense of community, exceptional cocktail programming, and extraordinary musicianship that defined Fat Cat were truly something special, and we\u2019re incredibly proud of what we built together. As the neighborhood continues through a period of transition and uncertainty, we’re committed to keeping the spirit and music of Fat Cat alive. We\u2019re excited to combine Fat Cat’s music programming with our sister locations, @greywitch_lv and @reddwarf_lv and we hope you\u2019ll continue this journey with us. With gratitude and love, Russell & Natalie.”<\/p>\n

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When it first opened, the venue was criticized for body shaming, but the politically correct name Gravitationally Gifted Cat just didn’t have the same ring to it.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The reviews of Fat Cat were generally positive, especially given Las Vegas isn’t exactly known for being a jazz and blues town.<\/p>\n

A New Orleans\/French Quarter-inspired bar in the Grand Bazaar Shops at Horseshoe, Bourbon St. Parade, closed after one month.<\/p>\n

Fat Cat’s intentions were good. It was billed as a throwback lounge, an intimate space for jazz, blues, funk and cocktails with live musicians playing actual music rather than a DJ jumping around like an idiot behind a laptop.<\/p>\n

Fat Cat was arguably cool, but that doesn’t translate into profitable.<\/p>\n

There were rumblings Fat Cat had used up its nine lives when it was listed as being for sale in 2025. There were no takers.<\/p>\n

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Fat Cat at Downtown Grand is for sale, presumably because getting so much foot traffic and revenue is a pain in the ass. (h\/t @Jaybirdvegasnv<\/a>) pic.twitter.com\/60qdwZ90hW<\/a><\/p>\n

— Vital Vegas (@VitalVegas) October 14, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n