04-13-08: We had the chance to sit down with Carroll Shelby for dinner at the grand opening of his new restaurant in Las Vegas, the Shelby Corner Café.  Located on the Shelby Automobiles campus at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the lightly themed Cafe is dedicated to the history of Shelby and plays up the brand with detailed décor. Shelby says the new restaurant will give enthusiasts visiting the track or Shelby facility “a place to dine that equals their passion for performance automobiles.” 
 
At the grand opening which was on the same weekend as the NHRA race at Las Vegas, the party goers included a who’s who of the racing realm including NHRA driver Bob Tasca III , Don “the Snake” Prudhomme and NHRA Top Fuel Funny Car Champion Robert Hight. The local Mustang club was also in attendance with several Mustangs.

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The food is a light American café fare, priced right and perfect for breakfast or lunch. Hoods of various Shelby models hang from the ceiling as well as light fixtures made from Shelby Mustang grilles.

“Shelby Corner Café is a fun place to dine while visiting Carroll’s two favorite places, the track and his factory,” said Amy Boylan, President of Shelby Automobiles.  “We initially planned to open a place for Shelby employees as the selection of eateries is a bit limited at the Speedway.  We had so many requests by enthusiasts to eat here after a museum tour that decided to open the café to the public.  On any given day, you might see our chief test driver, production crew, or even Carroll himself eating at the next table.”

Indeed the Shelby Corner Café will surely become a new spot on the map for Ford enthusiasts who are visiting Las Vegas on business or vacation. The Café is just across the parking lot from the Shelby HQ and Museum, so it makes a perfect hour stop. Business hours are from 6:00 am to 2:00 pm.

“The Café will be available for private parties and even has a door to accommodate the entry of a car inside,” noted Boylan.  “We might even add a stop at the Café to the Shelby car delivery program for a private meal.”

We happen to know that the new Café will become the number one place for car clubs to meet in Las Vegas! The Shelby Corner Cafe is located on Speedway Blvd, just two blocks southeast of Interstate 15 in far north Las Vegas.