The Riviera was also host to a variety of live entertainment, including female impersonator Frank Marino (1985–2009) and a topless revue known as Crazy Girls (1987–2015).

[6][7] Two other investors, Miami contractor Julius Gaines and Hollywood producer Lewis Merman, also withdrew because of concern over their affiliation with Charles Tourine, who had a criminal record.

[20] The project was designed by Roy France and Son, an architecture firm based in Miami Beach,[21] with J. Maher Weller as associate architect.

[30][31] Greenbaum had recently retired, and it was widely suspected that he was coerced to return to work by threats from Chicago mob boss Tony Accardo.

[32][27] Among Greenbaum's staff was entertainment director William Nelson, who was soon discovered to be mob informer Willie Bioff, leading to his murder in November 1955.

[40] In 1969, a deal was made to sell the Riviera to Parvin-Dohrmann,[41] but the sale was blocked by the Nevada Gaming Control Board, due to the company's previous failure to report a change of ownership.

[44] Martin left in 1972, after Torres refused his request to cut his performance schedule from two nightly shows to one; the Riviera bought back his shares.

[52] The Riviera eventually suffered financial problems in part because of the early 1980s recession, and also due to competition from new casinos in Atlantic City, where gambling had been legalized.

There were plans to eventually add a 43-story tower and an indoor amusement park,[63][64][59] although these never materialized; the prior expansion work had gone significantly over budget, leading the parent company to file again for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 1991.

[67][68] In 1997, businessman Allen Paulson agreed to acquire the Riviera,[69][70] but backed out of the deal a year later, stating that adequate financial information had not been disclosed.

[74][76] Prospective buyers for the Las Vegas location became more frequent in the 2000s, as development of the nearby Wynn resort was expected to help revitalize the northern Strip.

[73][77] However, Trump simply viewed the property as an investment, and bought into the company only to acquire a Nevada gaming license for potential projects in the future.

[83][84] A group of businessmen, including Barry Sternlicht and Neil Bluhm,[1][85][86] agreed to buy into the company in 2005,[87] with plans to renovate the Riviera.

[95][96][97] The Riviera was expected to benefit from two nearby projects, Echelon Place and Fontainebleau Las Vegas, but construction on both had been suspended by the end of 2009, due to the Great Recession.

His company, Starwood Capital Group, gained a 75-percent interest in Riviera Holdings, while local casino owner Derek Stevens owned 21 percent.

[75] Following Starwood's takeover, prospective buyers continued to look at the Riviera, but were turned off by the amount of money needed to renovate it in line with modern resorts.

[99] Amid continued financial losses, Paragon Gaming was hired to take over casino operations in 2013,[103][104] while Riviera Holdings remained as owner.

[113] Kristen Peterson of Las Vegas Weekly lamented the Riviera's closure, noting its historic status and design features such as "tiered chandeliers, excessive mirror-paneling and a carpet pattern that could only be the direct kin of '70s television.

"[115] John L. Smith of the Las Vegas Review-Journal opined that the Riviera "generated a certain kind of history that ought to be remembered, but I'm not sure its notorious tenure qualifies it for a spot on the National Register of Historic Places.

"[116] Singer Pia Zadora, who was married to Riklis during his ownership of the Riviera, said of the property: "At the risk of sounding crass, everyone is so upset and distraught about it being torn down, but I think it should have been imploded awhile ago.

"[17] Jim Murren, the CEO of MGM Resorts, said that "the days of (the Riviera's) benefit to Las Vegas are long gone," stating that expansion of the convention center "would be very beneficial to the neighborhood.

"[95] In response to the petition efforts, the LVCVA noted an economic impact analysis which found that a failure to demolish the Riviera would cost the local economy $15 billion over a 30-year period.

[123] After demolition started, contaminated soil was discovered on the property's north side, near four underground diesel fuel storage tanks.

[124][144] The convention center expansion, known as the West Hall, began construction in January 2018, occupying the eastern portion of the former Riviera land.

[149][150][151] In 2021, an agreement was reached to sell the property to Claudio Fischer, a Chilean real estate developer who had built several casino resorts in South America.

[1][92] Fontainebleau Las Vegas, which had recently opened just north of the Riviera site, announced in June 2024 that it would purchase 5 of the 10 acres, with Torino and Kanavos retaining the western half that fronts the Strip.

[171] Designed by Los Angeles architect Welton Beckett, the project included 114 new rooms, added through a six-story addition built atop the two-story structure.

[202][203] While Silver was serving as chief executive in 1984, he added a Burger King franchise inside the Riviera, making it the first Strip resort to feature a fast food chain outlet; this move inspired the phrase "Burger King Revolution" to refer to the broader trend of Las Vegas casinos catering to middle-class customers.

It consisted of concrete slabs featuring handprints from celebrities, including boxer Sugar Ray Leonard, and singers Dolly Parton and Michael Jackson.

[224][226] Several entertainers made their Las Vegas debut at the Riviera, including Orson Welles in 1956,[227] Barbra Streisand (as opening act for Liberace) in 1963,[224][228][229] and Engelbert Humperdinck in 1969.