If you need further evidence Rio is serious about a comeback, we’ve got it.

Rio has announced a longtime fixture at the off-Strip resort, All-American Bar & Grille, will have its final day of service on Feb. 13, 2024.

All-American was undeniably meh (or “mid” as the kids say), but it was a workhorse for the former operators, Caesars Entertainment. The new owners, Dreamscape, are retooling the resort from the ground up and anything meh is out.

All-American didn’t fare well on the Yelps.

Not only is Rio killing off this forgettable offering, it’s wasting no time in working on a new concept in the space.

All-American closes Feb. 13 and construction on a new restaurant begins the next day, Feb. 14.

While the food at All-American Bar & Grille wasn’t particularly great, it benefited from the fact there weren’t a lot of options at Rio.

Rio recently opened an outstanding food hall, Canteen, so the dining options are expanding and the resort overall is moving in the right direction. Yes, we got all the Canteen Food Hall menus first. It’s not always about us, probably.

Particular attention is being paid to price points and quality, as a focus on value is the prime directive to get Rio back on the map again.

We enjoyed video poker at the bar inside All-American Bar & Grille, so we hope that feature will survive the transition to the new restaurant (and, presumably, bar).

The staff was always great, but it seemed they were a tad demoralized as Caesars Entertainment made it clear they had one foot out the door after Rio was sold to Dreamscape in Dec. 2019. Caesars continued to operate Rio until late last year (Oct. 2, 2023).

Dreamscape’s investing hundreds of millions of dollars into making Rio, well, Rio again.

The list of upgrades is already long and impressive, and when we grilled executives at the resort, they gave all the right answers.

Every aspect of the resort is being scrutinized, and seasoned pros are at the helm to ensure Dreamscape’s investment shows and delivers returns.

The changes are ongoing, with many very visible (like the Rio’s exterior lighting and restoration of the marquees) and others less so (like operational efficiencies).

Many visitors and locals had written off Rio as a lost cause, but our prediction is people will return, like what they see, and Rio’s rebirth will serve as a template of how deep pockets, in conjunction with finding the right talent, can turn a dumpster fire into a cozy campfire where everyone’s making s’mores and singing “On Top of Spaghetti.” Yes, fellow youths, that used to be a thing.

On the restaurant front, we’ve heard Rio is getting at least one Italian concept. The All-American space makes much more sense than the former Martorano’s restaurant, which closed in 2015. Another Martorano’s location closed at Paris in 2021.

Rio’s rejuvenation could really grab the spotlight if the A’s deal at Tropicana falls through. Sorry, not “if,” but “when.” Bally’s Corp. is out of its depth, so if the A’s come to Las Vegas (also not a sure thing), they’ll be making the rounds again to find a location for their baseball stadium. The Las Vegas Festival Grounds isn’t a great location, and Circus Circus owner Phil Ruffin is a tough, demanding partner. Dreamscape claims they aren’t in current discussions with the A’s, but they offered 22 acres for $1, a deal that will become increasingly appealing as the A’s struggle to find $1 billion in financing for the ballpark.

Don’t get us started. Sports are dumb.

New restaurants, not dumb. You’ll know what’s happening in the All-American space when we know.

Let’s go, Rio.