Construction of the Forum Shops began in 1990, and the project opened on May 1, 1992, with 240,000 sq ft (22,000 m2) of leasable space.

Until 2016, the Forum Shops was the highest grossing mall in the U.S., measured in terms of sales per square foot.

[3][4][5] Henry Gluck, chairman of Caesars World, reviewed numerous options for redeveloping the site.

The idea to replace the racetrack with a shopping mall was devised by Gordon, a longtime friend of Gluck.

Local developer Irwin Molasky praised the project, stating that it "takes us light years into the future" while calling it "an adult Disneyland".

[11][12][13][14] Before its opening, the idea of a themed retail mall on the Las Vegas Strip had been met with some skepticism.

[22][23][24] However, the project was delayed by Starwood Hotels's sale of Caesars Palace to Park Place Entertainment, a deal that was finalized at the end of 1999.

[37] The expansion helped the Forum Shops stay competitive against newer malls on the Strip, including the Grand Canal Shoppes and Desert Passage.

[31] In 2009, Simon was sued by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), which alleged that four Hispanic janitors at the Forum Shops were subjected to discriminatory treatment a few years earlier.

With its lawsuit, the EEOC aimed to prevent such treatment in the future and also sought monetary damages for the janitors, who had since stopped working at the mall.

[3][42][43] The Forum Shops opened with 240,000 sq ft (22,000 m2) of leasable space,[44] and included approximately 60 tenants consisting of stores and restaurants.

[49][15] By 1997, the Forum Shops had become the highest grossing mall in the U.S., measured in terms of sales per square foot.

Upon opening, moving sidewalks allowed pedestrians to enter the mall from the Las Vegas Strip, although the only way to exit was through the casino.

[51][52][53] The three-story expansion includes a skylight,[50][37] and features several spiral escalators, created by Mitsubishi Electric.

[54][55] Upon the mall's opening, notable stores included Gianni Versace, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Victoria's Secret, and Warner Bros.

[3][8][56] New retailers added in the 1997 expansion included Bernini, Emporio Armani, Fendi, Hugo Boss, Lalique, Max Mara, Niketown, and Virgin Megastores.

[19][57] The 1997 project also added a three-story FAO Schwarz toy store, measuring 56,000 sq ft (5,200 m2).

It was the largest store at the mall, and featured numerous animatronics, including a Trojan Horse rising more than 40 feet.

[64] The 2004 expansion added many designer tenants, including Carolina Herrera, Celine, Chrome Hearts, Custo Barcelona, Giuseppe Zanotti, Kiehl's, Peter Max, and Thomas Pink.

[70][71] Other retailers added since then have included Christian Lacroix, Intermix,[72][73] De Beers, and Tiffany & Co.[74] Upon opening, the Forum Shops debuted with the Festival Fountain,[3][8] which cost $4 million.

[75] It was the site of a free hourly show featuring lasers and animatronic statues depicting Apollo, Bacchus, Plutus, and Venus.

The show depicts King Atlas and his children; the latter feud over who will have control of Atlantis, which is ultimately sunk.

[102] The Cheesecake Factory was among new restaurants added in the 1997 expansion, along with Caviarteria, focusing primarily on caviar dishes and champagnes.

[106] The 2004 expansion added five restaurants, including Sushi Roku,[34] a Segafredo Zanetti Expresso Cafe,[107] and Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab.

[119] Two years prior to the closure, Simon Property Group had filed a suit against Chinois' ownership company, alleging that it misrepresented the type of club that OPM would be.

[120][117] Regarding the gate closures, Goodwin accused the mall of racial discrimination, noting that the club's clientele was primarily African-American.