Cinnabar Cocktail Lounge, Las Vegas, Bella Ladies V-Neck Tee

Description

The Cinnabar Cocktail Lounge was a rustic, Western-themed bar that operated in downtown Las Vegas during the 1940s and 1950s, remembered for its distinctive character and prominent neon signage. Originally established on South 1st Street, the lounge relocated in 1947 to 122 North 2nd Street, just steps away from the bustling Fremont Street corridor. Styled as “Truly Western,” the Cinnabar featured wood-paneled interiors, frontier motifs, and a relaxed atmosphere that stood apart from the glitzier casino lounges emerging nearby. The move to 2nd Street coincided with downtown Las Vegas’s growing status as a neon-lit entertainment hub, and Cinnabar fit the scene with its eye-catching signage and authentic saloon vibe. By the early 1950s, the Cinnabar expanded to include a neighboring eatery known as the Cinnabar Restaurant, creating a dual experience of food and cocktails for downtown patrons. The venue’s marketing leaned into its rustic appeal, promoting itself as a no-nonsense drinking establishment with local flair. It also sported a rooftop beacon light, crafted by the Young Electric Sign Company (YESCO), which helped draw late-night traffic from the surrounding blocks. Despite its popularity, the Cinnabar disappeared from Las Vegas city directories around the late 1950s, early 1960s. The building and its block were eventually absorbed into what would become the Golden Nugget complex as Fremont Street underwent rapid modernization. Although overshadowed by larger casinos, the Cinnabar Cocktail Lounge represents a formative chapter in Las Vegas history. It was part of the city’s post-war evolution—when saloons, cocktail lounges, and neon-adorned bars helped shape the culture of “old Vegas.” Its blend of Western kitsch, local hospitality, and prime downtown location gave it a lasting place in the city’s collective memory, even if its physical structure has long since vanished beneath modern-day resort development. Today, the Cinnabar’s former property remains part of the Golden Nugget complex. However, collectors and historians preserve its memory through postcards, matchbooks, neon sign photos … and now, our beautiful one-of-a-kind t-shirt design.