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Redwood restaurant at Las Vegas' California Hotel advances through permitting

Redwood restaurant at Las Vegas' California Hotel advances through permitting

Built World Las Vegas, NV local

Health district and city sign permits filed within the last month for the Cal's downtown steakhouse

September 8th, 2026: City approves Redwood sign permit

Overview

Updated 49 minutes ago

The Redwood restaurant at the California Hotel in downtown Las Vegas is moving through the city's permitting process. A food establishment record was filed with the Southern Nevada Health District on August 24, and a sign permit was filed with the city on September 8.

Each filing is a single approval, not a final green light. The Cal, a Boyd Gaming property known as the 'Ninth Island' for its Hawaiian clientele, has operated a steakhouse under the Redwood name for years. These filings suggest the space is being set up for another run.

Why it matters

The Cal's steakhouse is a downtown Vegas dining anchor for Hawaiian visitors; these permits show its next iteration is taking shape.

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Key Indicators

2
Permits filed since late August
A health district food establishment record and a city sign permit for 12 E Ogden Ave.
2016
Year of the Redwood's last relaunch
The steakhouse reopened in 2016 after a remodel of the former Redwood Bar & Grill.

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People Involved

Organizations Involved

Timeline

September 2016 September 2026

3 events Latest: September 8th, 2026 · 1 week ago
  1. City approves Redwood sign permit

    Latest Regulatory

    City of Las Vegas issues a commercial building permit for signage at the California Hotel property.

  2. Health district records Redwood food establishment

    Regulatory

    Southern Nevada Health District files a food establishment record for the Redwood restaurant at 12 E Ogden Ave.

  3. Redwood Steakhouse debuts at the Cal

    Opening

    The rebuilt Redwood Bar & Grill reopens as Redwood Steakhouse after an extensive remodel.

Scenarios

1

Redwood Steakhouse reopens at the California Hotel

Likely Resolves by Q1 2027

Discussed by: Local dining coverage, including Eater Vegas, has tracked the Cal's restaurant updates.

The remaining approvals come through in the next few months and the Redwood reopens to customers. Boyd's record with the Cal, where a 2016 relaunch followed a similar permitting and renovation cycle, makes this the most direct path.

2

Redwood restaurant rebrands before opening

Possible Resolves by Q1 2027

Discussed by: Boyd Gaming's history of renaming concepts at the Cal, including the 2016 Redwood Bar & Grill to Redwood Steakhouse change.

Boyd converts the space into a different concept before it opens, retiring the Redwood name. A new sign permit would support new signage, and a further name change would follow the same remodel-then-relaunch pattern seen in 2016.

3

Permit delays push the Redwood's opening past early 2027

Possible Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: No opening date has been announced; the Cal has not confirmed one publicly.

Construction, staffing, or additional permit requirements slow the timeline, leaving the restaurant closed into the second quarter of 2027. The two filings so far cover only food establishment status and signage, not interior work or occupancy.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

September 2016

Redwood Bar & Grill becomes Redwood Steakhouse (2016)

In 2016, the California Hotel's longtime Redwood Bar & Grill was gutted and relaunched as Redwood Steakhouse after an extensive interior remodel. The new room featured island-inspired decor, carved-walnut pilasters, and a menu built on steaks, seafood, and chops.

Then

The relaunch made Redwood the Cal's centerpiece fine-dining option, open four days a week.

Now

It became part of Boyd Gaming's broader push to refresh its downtown Las Vegas properties.

Why this matters now

The current permit filings suggest the Cal is again reshaping the same Redwood dining space, echoing the 2016 cycle of remodel-then-relaunch.

2016

Boyd Gaming's $100 million amenity campaign (2016)

Boyd Gaming announced a $100 million effort to reinvigorate amenities across its national property portfolio. The California Hotel received new restaurants, a sports lounge, a rebuilt casino floor, and the Redwood Steakhouse relaunch.

Then

Downtown Las Vegas properties got upgraded dining and entertainment options.

Now

The campaign signaled Boyd's strategy of investing in its downtown cluster rather than only on the Strip.

Why this matters now

If Boyd is funding another Redwood renovation, the current permits would fit that same investment strategy.

Sources

(4)

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