Legendary restaurant to close for good in weeks after 18 years and customers called it the ‘best’

AN iconic Las Vegas restaurant is closing for good after 18 years of serving the city.

Customers were shocked to learn that Fleur, a popular steakhouse in Mandalay Bay, will officially close at the end of the month.

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Fleur launched on the Strip in 2005 as Fleur de Lys.

A Vegas version of Chef Hubert Keller’s San Francisco restaurant, it became known to locals and visitors alike for its decadent steaks and delectable pastas.

The San Francisco Fleur was once considered one of America’s top fine dining restaurants, and right from the start, customers flocked to try the Las Vegas outpost.

However, Fleur de Lys changed over the years and became Fleur von Hubert Keller. The second variant was more casual and offered a constantly updated menu of French dishes.

Keller exited the restaurant entirely in 2021 after a year of grappling with restaurant fights related to the coronavirus pandemic.

That’s when MGM Resorts bought Fleur and put it under new management, but the selling troubles were far from over.

Around two years later, Fleur finally says goodbye to customers.

A new restaurant will replace the now-defunct Fleur, but it’s unclear what the new concept will look like.

In recent years, restaurant competition has sprung up along Mandalay Bay.

Retro by Voltaggio, helmed by Top Chef stars Michael and Bryan Voltaggio, opened earlier this month.

And a sports bar called Flanker Kitchen will also take up a new lease and officially open on June 10.

Customers didn’t react well to the news that Fleur will be gone forever.

“My wife and I splurged at Fleur’s in Mandalay Bay when Hubert Keller was still at it,” one fan wrote on Twitter. “Probably the best meal I’ve ever had.”

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Fleur isn’t the only restaurant struggling to maintain profits as consumers face high inflation.

Hundreds of chains and independent stores across the country have fallen victim to what some experts have dubbed the “retail apocalypse.”

High inflation in goods across all sectors has forced many buyers to rein in spending.

Fine dining concepts like Fleur will suffer the most in a recession-like environment as consumers are more likely to put their money into budget dining experiences.

But cheaper restaurants are also under pressure in the uncertain economic environment.

Applebee’s has forecast that between 10 and 20 locations will close by the end of the year.

“This is not where we want to be in the future,” said Tony Moralejo, Applebee’s president.

The fast food outlet Burger King has also closed 26 locations in April after a franchisee failed to pay royalties and advertising money.

In the past year, 27 locations in Minnesota, Utah, Montana, Kansas, Nebraska and North Dakota have also been closed.

Discretionary purchases of household items, clothing and groceries are also decreasing.

This is reflected in the bankruptcies that major retailers are announcing as they plan to close stores across the country.

For example, Bed Bath & Beyond announced plans to close nearly 400 stores after the company filed for bankruptcy.

All 360 locations, as well as 120 Buybuy Baby stores, are set to close by June 30 unless the company finds a buyer in the coming weeks.

The popular Tuesday Morning discount chain is also closing hundreds of stores months after filing for bankruptcy.

Tuesday Morning said the company needed to be restructured to deal with its deeply burdensome debt.

The company only operates 480 stores, compared to 700 stores three years ago.

A popular tailor also says goodbye to its customers after almost 40 years of business activity.

And the Hard Rock Cafe is closing locations in major US cities.