Las Vegas is known for more than adult entertainment such as casinos and gambling. There is an entertainment center called Area 15 about a mile off of the Vegas Strip that contains a number of entertainment venues. As one can imagine, this is a play on Area 51. And yes, things get weird inside the beige warehouse. I got to experience one of them.
Omega Mart is a very unique supermarket. The last stop for quality but the first in savings. And it’s a lot of elements that form a massive, live, immersive experience. What begins as a quirky satire of the supermarket slowly devolves into a story of conspiracy and familial backstabbing.
The creators of Omega Mart have put a lot of time and energy into a project that is difficult to describe in words alone. The use of nonlinear storytelling serves to keep you exploring for quite a while. I was there for about three hours before I had to leave because of hypoglycemia. I would recommend you bring a water bottle and some snacks if possible. This experience was amazing, but definitely takes some time.
Tickets run a high $50 for entry. For some this is fine, especially if you stick around for the entire day. For others, this is a bit high. I hadn’t planned anything else for the day so I paid nonetheless. Omega Mart may need to be the main reason you visit Vegas with this price tag. It’s worth mentioning that the price tags on every item aren’t fictional; you can buy anything at the store. This happens to be part of the experience and the gift shop rolled into one. I hate marketing, but for once I have to tip my rainbow top hat to their marketing tactics. All the same, this isn’t a place I could visit every weekend. This is a special occasion.
The employees in all the different locations are the best part of the experience. They offer help on the task at hand or can guide you where to go next. I had a full conversation with one employee about all of the Pride-related items in stock such as “Canned Pride” and “Gender Fluid” soda.
Though I am admittedly giving a largely positive review, not everything about Omega Mart is positive. In researching a bit more on Omega Mart and it’s social media, I discovered there have been some major disputes between employees and the management since opening day. It’s probably worthwhile to form a separate entry just for these misgivings, since what’s stated in this sub Reddit sounds like what I would say about a former position I held at Elvis Presley’s Graceland. Fair warning: as with any sub Reddit, this is a rabbit hole of complaints.
The Omega Mart experience is one that provided a lot of fun and even more to explore. I definitely want to go again, but also want to check out the rest of Area 15. Though I’ll certainly have to save up for the plane tickets and the entry fee for next time. The present issues and ongoing troubles are the flip side to how much fun I had at the place. Because of this, I give Omega Mart three stars.