known as The Shoppes at Mandalay Place. The resort initially had 13 retail shops upon opening, with a full shopping mall planned for property between Mandalay Bay and the Luxor. Circus Circus Enterprises partnered with Westcor to develop the mall, and Nordstrom was announced as an anchor tenant in May 1999, with the mall's opening scheduled for 2001. However, the project was set back after Westcor dropped out later in 1999, unable to secure a second anchor tenant. Construction stopped in 2000, after Nordstrom also backed out. In May 2002, Mandalay Resort Group announced that it would resume construction, with the mall scaled back from to . Mandalay Place eventually opened in October 2003. It included 41 retailers, located along a 310-foot skybridge connecting Mandalay Bay to the Luxor. It opened with several retailers not found elsewhere in Las Vegas, in an effort to attract locals as well as tourists. Tenants have also comprised several restaurants, including two by chef Rick Moonen. Among the mall's notable retailers was the Reading Room, a bookstore popular for its author signings. The store was devised by Schaeffer, although the concept of a bookstore on the Strip was met with some skepticism. Schaeffer said, "What could be a more obvious place for a bookstore than a destination that has nearly 40 million visitors a year?" It was the only bookstore on the Strip until its closing in 2009. Ivan Kane's Forty Deuce, a speakeasy with burlesque 1940s-style dancers, operated at Mandalay Place from 2004 to 2009. 1923 Bourbon & Burlesque opened in its place in 2014, serving as a cigar lounge with a Prohibition era theme. Its primary attraction consisted of performances by Holly Madison and a burlesque troupe. Because of a dispute with her business partners, Madison departed 1923 Bourbon & Burlesque later in 2014, and it was renamed 1923 Prohibition Bar. Pool area The resort includes an 11-acre pool area known as Mandalay Bay Beach, which features 2,700 tons of sand imported from California. One of the pools includes a wave machine producing six-foot waves. It was designed to host championship surfing. The pool area also features a lazy river, and includes a stage for summer concerts, a stable since the resort's opening. This popularized the concept of poolside concerts at Las Vegas resorts. A topless sunbathing area known as Moorea Beach Club opened in 2003. It is named after Mo'orea, an