Entrepreneur Melissa Robinson has the highest confidence in Downtown Las Vegas’ Arts District as a place where businesses want to invest and customers want to frequent.
Co-owner, along with her dad, of two popular eateries in the Arts District, Robinson recently opened Mezcla Tequila & Ceviche Bar next door to her YU-OR-MI Sushi Bar, which opened in late 2020, both on E. California Ave.
In the intimate 800-sqare-foot Mezcla, customers relax with a unique and expansive selection of not only familiar agave spirits including tequila, mezcal, raicilla, bacanora and sotol, but also lesser known South American specialties like pisco, cachaca, and singani.
“We make an effort to introduce our customers to spirits that aren’t commonly found in most bar offerings,” said Robinson. “Plus, in the spirit of the Arts District, we wanted to give excellent but lesser known specialty brands the opportunity to gain a following,” said Robinson.
While Mezcla’s menu features a variety of dishes like ceviche, aguachile, seafood cocktails, homemade salsa and more that have become fan favorites, Robinson also encourages her staff to come to work with cherished family recipes, which then become specialty menu items that expand on the Latin and Pacific Island offerings.
A Chicago native and engineer by education, Robinson came to Las Vegas to work with her dad when he operated various businesses in Strip casinos. When the two decided to branch out and offer Las Vegas foodies something different, their only choice for a location was the downtown Arts District.
“The Arts District is a remarkable collection of talented business people who support one another all working toward a greater good,” Robinson said. “It’s a true neighborhood.”
Both Mezcla and YU-OR-MI have a loyal following among locals and Robinson says Las Vegas visitors are discovering the Arts District as well.
“The city does a great job of promoting the area among locals and visitors. Plus, we’re looking forward to the new parking garage, which will make it even easier to spend a day or evening exploring the Arts District,” she said.
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