Downtown has quite enough problems without Tamares Group‘s continued rubbishing of several former Jackie Gaughan casinos adding to the malaise. Now Tamares — or its casino-management sock puppet, BRH Gaming — has sent LVA the following, very depressing bulletin: “The Plaza Hotel & Casino downtown has closed the Omelet House, Aqua Pit and Aqua Lounge. Please update your listings if you have these venues included. Nothing is going to replace them at this time. Thanks.”
“Nothing is going to replace them”? What a surprise. If Tamares is good at anything, it’s denuding casinos of their amenities are “replacing” them with a bare-bones experience (like the Plaza’s downsized buffet) that makes the early years of Midwest tribal gaming look downright palatial.
Hey Tamares, you want to make Downtown a better place? Then invest a dime or two in your casinos — or bring in a good management team (Millennium Gaming and Golden Gaming spring to mind) and give them the wherewithal to make your grind joints competitive again. Because, as of right now, Downtown would be better off without you.
Ice is toast. Another Riviera show folds. Considering that, when Ice opened, I heard it compared (unfavorably) to a high school play, the real surprise is that it lasted as long as it did.
Since this week I am rereading (for the umptheenth time) “The Players, The Men Who Made Las Vegas”: specifically the chapters on Jackie Gaughan, Mel Exber and Sam Boyd, you can imagine my disgust. Downtown properties can only succeed with on-site owner operators, IMO. Tamares is nothing more than a casino slumlord, slowly destroying the most unique properties Downtown. The Las Vegas Club and Plaza deserve so much better. Why isn’t Mayor Goodman using all his abilities to, uh, persuade, Tamares to sell to someone who gives a care? Derek Stevens comes to mind, once again.
Regarding The Riviera; it seems to me that Penn National would be smart to buy it, since it looks like it fits nicely with their prime demographic.
Tamares casinos going downhill? The hotels are worse.
I stayed at the Vegas Club (for free) about a month ago. Room carpet was dirty along the edges; wall paper had an 18″ rip in it; bathtub was dirty with footprints; window above bathtub was stuck open – had to call Maintenance to force it closed; heat didn’t work; Maintenance had to manually change it from “cool” to “heat”; water was so hot in bathroom sink that my hand was burned (minor); there were four bolt holes in the wall where the safe had been removed. (Oh yeah, I had to ask Housekeeping for more soap: there was only one silver dollar sized disc for both the sink & tub.)
I keep getting offers for free stays at the Plaza/Vegas Club, but I won’t be back until their operations improve. I don’t expect a lot from a “cheap” hotel, especially if it’s comped, but Tamares has dropped below the line of minimum quality standards. Too bad – I remember the time when the Las Vegas Club Hotel was a decent place to stay.
By the way, I heard that the Plaza has shut down one of its hotel towers.
As for the Vegas Club casino, you can still pump cash into a glass-faced “claw machine” to try to catch your own live lobster to send to the restaurant kitchen for your dinner. Such a thrill – I passed.
We recently stayed at the Riveria during November. I was afraid it would be as dead as it was back in April of this year, but I was pleasantly surprised. There were lots of people (Sunday nite was very busy). We were there for 4 days and it wasnt over-crowded, but you had to dodge people most of the time. Street traffic was light on that end of town, but foot traffic was fair, more than in April. I was really afraid that the Riveria was on a downward spiral and I was going to cash in my slot points because I didnt think they were going to survive. We changed our minds and didnt cash in the points, because it looked like they were bouncing back.
I am crossing my fingers, (toes and eyes and legs too!) that they make it. I would hate to see one of the last bastions of “old Vegas” die off and disappear.
So would I, Michelle. The current ownership is practically broke, though, and is subjecting the Riv to death by a thousand cuts. The shareholders balked at selling the property back in ’06 and now you can’t get beans for it. Like Jeff in OKC said, it needs a Penn National (or Boyd Gaming or somebody) to come and spruce things up.
Unfortunately, I never seem to go to the Riviera during the days when it’s crowded. Every time I’ve been lately, you can almost hear crickets chirping on the casino floor. Which is too sad for words because the place still has a lot of that Old Vegas charm … as do parts of the Sahara, though it’s mashed up with a lot of junk, too (the Sahara, I mean).
I stayed at the Riv for three nights in early September. The room was just fine and a really great value. I thought the place had some life left in it. It was darn hard to find a seat at the cool old school pool. The Riviera casino was rarely crowded but it never seemed dead either. I think the place would seem much more alive with some live music — there must be some decent local bands who could play classic covers for a casino that is clearly on a beer budget. I can’t remember the last time the Riv had much in the way of entertainment.
Mark My Words! When Boyd is done with the Station purchase, and they get whatever properties they can agree on (They won’t get all, but they’ll get something), they will buy the Riviera. I’m guessing they will pay in the $350 million range, and it will put them back on the Strip with a property that fits their customer base perfectly and eliminates some of the guilt of tearing down the Stardust. Penn will act like they are intersted and let it get away over $5 million while they argue over price and drag their feet.
Howard
The Riv used to have a live band behind the bar that is now blocked off for “chargable shows” like the Neil Diamond and Frank and Barbara shitcks. The floor and bar was always crowded with people enjoying the music and the slots! Now the bar is empty and no one sits at the slots near the bar at all.
I think the first sign of downhill for the Riv was getting rid of the La Cage show and blocking off the bar area. Such a shame!