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Holy Cow Casino and Brewery

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Holy Cow! Casino and Brewery was a Las Vegas locals casino and microbrewery that operated from 1992 until its casino closure in 2002, with brewing continuing for a period afterward.

Last updated August 25, 2026

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Overview

Holy Cow! Casino and Brewery was a small casino, restaurant, bar, and microbrewery on South Las Vegas Boulevard in Las Vegas, Nevada. Although the branded operation began in 1992, the building had a longer hospitality history. Abe Fox opened Foxy's Deli there in April 1955. The deli became known for fresh food brought in daily from Los Angeles and for serving a broad clientele at a time when racial segregation still shaped many Las Vegas establishments. It was described as the first restaurant on the Las Vegas Strip to allow Black customers. Foxy's Deli closed in 1975 after Fox sold it. The building reopened in 1976 as Foxy's Firehouse casino, which later closed in 1988. Tom "Big Dog" Wiesner acquired the former casino building after selling the Marina Hotel to Kirk Kerkorian in 1989. Wiesner reopened the property as Holy Cow! in March 1992. The operation was part of Wiesner's Big Dog's Hospitality Group, a Nevada chain of local bar-restaurants and casinos. Its identity was built around an oversized 14-foot fiberglass Holstein cow wearing sunglasses above the entrance, along with black-and-white cow murals on the exterior. The cow-themed presentation gave the property a distinctive roadside presence north of the principal Las Vegas Strip resort corridor. In 1993, Wiesner added a microbrewery. Holy Cow became the first brewery to open in Las Vegas after Wiesner successfully persuaded Nevada lawmakers to change rules that had prevented breweries from operating in the city. The brewery had annual capacity of approximately 2,200 barrels and produced a range of ales and related beers, including Cream Ale, Amber Gambler Pale Ale, Rebel Red, Vegas Gold Hefe Weiss, IPA, Sweet Stout, English Brown Ale, and Hefeweizen. Its beers received medals at brewing competitions, and Holy Cow supplied beer to five other Big Dog's Hospitality Group properties at the time of the casino's closure. The property developed a local and novelty-oriented reputation rather than competing directly with the largest destination resorts. In 1996, plans were announced to renovate the venue and rename it Chicago-Chicago Casino, while retaining the brewery and adding Big Dog's Chop House. The proposed rebranding was not completed as described. Holy Cow was included in Zagat's 1998 list of America's Best Meal Deals, and broadcaster Harry Caray reportedly visited and signed a wall with his well-known "Holy cow!" expression. The casino closed on March 22, 2002. The documented explanation was a decline in tourism following the September 11 attacks, although the brewery continued operating for a time and Big Dog's Hospitality Group considered moving brewing activity to its Draft House Barn & Casino in North Las Vegas. The fiberglass cow was later sold to Nevada casino and automobile dealer Jim Marsh and displayed at his Longstreet hotel-casino in Amargosa Valley. The former property subsequently became associated with several redevelopment proposals. In 2005, it was used as a sales office for condominium projects, including the proposed Ivana Las Vegas development, which was ultimately cancelled. Steven Johnson's Aspen Highlands Holdings acquired the site in 2007. Plans approved in 2009 envisioned a gaming and retail center with a casino, restaurant, tavern, Walgreens store, and a large gateway sign. The Holy Cow building was demolished in April 2012. Construction of a two-story Walgreens began on the former site in 2014. The Holy Cow brand itself is therefore defunct, with no evidence in the supplied sources of a current operating venue under that name.

History

The site associated with Holy Cow! Casino and Brewery began as Foxy's Deli, opened by Abe Fox in April 1955 on South Las Vegas Boulevard. The deli became known for fresh food transported from Los Angeles and attracted celebrities, local business figures, and tourists. It also held an important place in Las Vegas social history because it was described as the first restaurant on the Strip to permit Black customers. Fox sold the business, and the deli closed in 1975. In 1976, the building reopened as Foxy's Firehouse casino. That operation eventually closed in 1988. Tom "Big Dog" Wiesner and his partners had sold the Marina Hotel to Kirk Kerkorian in 1989, and Wiesner used proceeds from that transaction to acquire the closed casino property. He reopened the two-story building as Holy Cow! in March 1992, operating it within Big Dog's Hospitality Group. Wiesner expanded the concept beyond gaming. In 1993, he added a microbrewery, making Holy Cow the first brewery to open in Las Vegas. Existing state rules had prevented breweries from operating in the city, so Wiesner worked to obtain a legal change allowing local brewing. The brewery had capacity of about 2,200 barrels annually and produced a varied beer list, including pale ales, red ale, hefeweizen, IPA, stout, brown ale, and cream ale. Its products won medals in brewing competitions, including a gold medal for a classic English pale ale in 1993 and later bronze medals for a red ale and Black Lab stout. Amber Gambler was recognized among the top beers at the 1997 Las Vegas International Beer Festival. By 1998, the brewery had produced its 800th batch and supplied beer to five other properties in the Big Dog's group. The venue's marketing relied heavily on visual theming. A 14-foot fiberglass Holstein wearing sunglasses stood above the entrance, while spotted cow murals covered parts of the building's exterior. The property also developed associations with Chicago-themed entertainment; Harry Caray, the Chicago Cubs broadcaster known for saying "Holy cow!", visited and signed a wall. In June 1996, the owners announced plans to renovate the casino, rename it Chicago-Chicago Casino, retain the brewery, and add Big Dog's Chop House. The proposed transformation did not become the property's lasting identity. Zagat later included Holy Cow among its 1998 list of America's Best Meal Deals. The casino closed on March 22, 2002. The cited account attributes the closure to weakened tourism after the September 11 attacks. Brewing continued temporarily, and the group considered moving production to its Draft House Barn & Casino in North Las Vegas. The large cow statue was sold to Jim Marsh for $2,200 and relocated to the Longstreet hotel-casino in Amargosa Valley. After the closure, the building entered a succession of redevelopment phases. In 2004, a $700 million, 940-foot condominium tower called The Summit was proposed for the site. By early 2005, the building had become a sales office for Liberty Tower and later for Ivana Las Vegas after Ivana Trump became associated with the project. The condominium development was cancelled later in 2005. Steven Johnson purchased the property through Aspen Highlands Holdings in September 2007. Subsequent plans included a Walgreens and possible development of air rights above it, followed in 2009 by a proposed gaming and retail center with a casino, restaurant, tavern, and large sign. The Holy Cow building was demolished in late April 2012, and construction of a two-story Walgreens began on the former site in 2014. No current Holy Cow casino, brewery, or successor operation is identified in the supplied reference material.

  • 2014

    Walgreens construction begins

    [1]

    Construction begins on a two-story Walgreens store at the former property.

  • 2012

    Original building is demolished

    [1]

    The Holy Cow building is demolished in April.

  • 2002

    Casino closes

    [1]

    The casino shuts on March 22; brewing continues for a limited period.

  • 1998

    Holy Cow receives Zagat recognition

    [1]

    Zagat includes the property on its list of America's Best Meal Deals.

  • 1996

    Chicago-Chicago Casino renovation announced

    [1]

    Plans call for a casino expansion, a retained brewery, a new name, and Big Dog's Chop House.

  • 1993

    Las Vegas microbrewery begins operation

    [1]

    Holy Cow adds a microbrewery and becomes the first brewery to open in Las Vegas after a change in applicable state rules.

  • 1992

    Holy Cow reopens the property

    [1]

    Tom Wiesner reopens the two-story property as Holy Cow! in March.

  • 1988

    Foxy's Firehouse closes

    [1]

    The casino operating under the Foxy's Firehouse name shuts down.

  • 1976

    Building reopens as Foxy's Firehouse

    [1]

    The former deli building is converted into a casino.

  • 1975

    Foxy's Deli closes

    [1]

    The deli closes after Fox sells the business.

Products and positioning

A highly themed, locally oriented Las Vegas casino and brewpub combining small-scale gaming, casual food and drink, and an in-house brewery. Its visual identity emphasized cow imagery and roadside memorability, while its beer program differentiated it as an early Las Vegas microbrewery.

  • Brewery · 1993

    Holy Cow Microbrewery

    The in-house brewery was added in 1993 and had reported capacity of approximately 2,200 barrels per year. It produced beer for the Holy Cow venue and, later, for five other properties in Big Dog's Hospitality Group. The brewery's significance came partly from its status as the first brewery to open in Las Vegas after Wiesner helped change rules that had previously prevented city breweries.

  • Beer

    Amber Gambler Pale Ale

    Amber Gambler was one of Holy Cow's signature beers. It was included among the highly rated beers at the 1997 Las Vegas International Beer Festival, where more than 100 handcrafted beers were sampled.

  • Beer

    Rebel Red Red Ale

    Rebel Red was Holy Cow's red ale. The brewery received a bronze medal for its red ale in 1994, establishing the beer among the property's award-recognized offerings.

  • Beer

    Vegas Gold Hefe Weiss

    Vegas Gold Hefe Weiss was a wheat-beer-style offering on Holy Cow's published beer list. It formed part of the brewery's broad selection of ales and wheat beers.

  • Beer · 1993

    Classic English Pale Ale

    Holy Cow's classic English pale ale won a gold medal in 1993. It was among the brewery's earliest award-winning beers.

  • Beer · 1996

    Black Lab Stout

    Black Lab was Holy Cow's stout and received a bronze medal in 1996. It represented the darker-beer side of the brewery's product range.

Brand decisions

  • 2002

    Close the casino while retaining brewing temporarilyStrategy

    Background

    Tourism declined after the September 11 attacks, weakening the casino operation.

    Action taken

    Big Dog's Hospitality Group closed the casino on March 22 and continued brewery operations for a period, while considering a move to Draft House Barn & Casino in North Las Vegas.

    Aftermath

    The Holy Cow casino ceased operating and the property later entered redevelopment and eventual demolition.

    Source

  • 1996

    Proposed Chicago-Chicago Casino rebrandingStrategy

    Background

    The owners sought to refresh the property and expand its casino and food-service offer while preserving the brewery.

    Action taken

    Plans were announced to rename the property Chicago-Chicago Casino, expand the casino, and add Big Dog's Chop House.

    Aftermath

    The proposed identity did not become the property's lasting operating name in the supplied record.

    Source

  • 1993

    Add an in-house microbreweryStrategy

    Background

    Holy Cow operated in a Las Vegas market where local breweries had previously been restricted by state rules.

    Action taken

    Tom Wiesner pursued a change in the applicable law and added a brewery to the casino and restaurant property.

    Aftermath

    The brewery became the first to open in Las Vegas, won competition medals, and later supplied beer to other Big Dog's Hospitality Group properties.

    Source

Sources1 sources

  1. 1Holy Cow Casino and Breweryen.wikipedia.org

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