Resort Jobs Not Coming Back Soon

Since the recession started few places were hit as bad as Las Vegas with the huge collapse in real estate there as well as the drop in visitor spending since the downturn. The hotel resorts have laid off thousands of employees and this started before the downturn as the casino’s used technology to get rid of positions such as people in change booths or change runners. The companies are also trying to use technology such as mini roulette which only uses one employee instead of several and slot point’s redemption machines which will cut down people in the slot club desks. I don’t see the casino companies slowing down on using technology to replace employees where possible these jobs won’t return. In recent week there has been a lot of press about the “Plaza” reopening with 800 new jobs and the Octavuis Tower opening at “Caesars Palace” but that won’t take up the slack for the thousands laid off before. The “Plaza” reopening is good for downtown and the city but you have to remember when it closed to remodel the employees were laid off as well as the employees in the “Lady Luck”,“Binion’s” hotel the “Sahara” and this week the loss of up to 90 jobs at the “Western.” Las Vegas will come back it always does but it could take longer that the rest of the country, time will tell on that note.

"Sahara" To Return Well Maybe

SBE Entertainment the nightclub operator that bought the "Sahara" hotel and casino in 2007 for $350 million has filed plans to renovate and reopen the property. The plans include a renovated casino as well as renovated hotel rooms the number of which will drop from 1,700 to 1,622 so a small decrease. The other plans announced in the filing with the Clark County Comission include removing the roller coaster and adding a nightclub and an outdoor dining area as well as a 2,830 square foor beer gardern. Plans discussed in the past suggested the owners were going to knock down the property and build up to three nightclubs although those plans seem to be out. Even if the property did return it most likely would have a new name and the Middle East theme would be good. We mentioned in the past that we didn't expect the property to reopen for several years and even with the new plans filled i would be surprised if the hotel reopens in the next few years. The new plans sound interesting but this property is surounded by half finished hotels on the far end of the strip with very little foot traffic and i still don't think this project will go ahead in the next few years but we will have to see.

Buy "Sahara" History Starting June 16th

Starting June 16th is your chance to pick up a bit of Las Vegas history as they sell off everything inside the closed "Sahara" hotel. The items on sale include such things as the great rat pack pictures, tables, chairs, glassware, kitchen and office equipment as well as much more. I would love some of those pictures as well as the great tacky casino door handles but oh well. The interesting part is this isn't going to be an auction as everything will be tagged with a sale price and for the first four days of the sale there will be a $10 admission charge. All items can be paid for with cash or Visa or Mastercard and i will put a link after this story to the liquidators website which has great pictures of the items and should bring back memories of "Sahara" visitors. Its sad to this this Las Vegas history go but hopefully the new owners will enjoy there little piece of Las Vegas history.

NCL Liquidators

Sahara Auction Website Link

Sale Site Phone: (702) 207-6473

"Sahara" Joint Mailing

I have just recieved a joint mailing from the now closed "Sahara" hotel and "Circus Circus" who they have an agreement with. Its strange to recieve the mailing which has both the "Sahara" and "Circus Circus" logos on it The mailing has a thank you and best wishes message from Arash Azarbazin the president of the former "Sahara Hotel and Casino" who talks about the "Circus Circus" players club and about the "Circus Circus" property. The rest of the mailing includes my room offer and things to do at "Circus Circus." I'm not a fan of the clown house apart from the really good steak house and as im now part of the "Circus Circus" mailings who knows i may endure the scary clown and screaming kids to stay there. 

Is This The Fate Of The "Sahara"

Now that the "Sahara" has closed the question becomes will the new SLS project really happen or is the "Sahara" going to sit vacant like the "Key Largo" a near strip casino location that has been closed for several years. The boarded up "Key Largo" is surrounded by a chain link fence and watched over by a bored security guard. If the SLS resort doesn't go ahead on the "Sahara" property the same fate could continue there for several years although if i had to guess the property would be knocked down and, become another empty lot on the Strip to deter the homeless from moving in to the property.

Cash In Those "Sahara" Chips Now

Now that the "Sahara" has closed if you want to cash in your old "Sahara" casino chips ot tickets instead of keeping them as a keep sake you still have some time left; Because of gaming regulations you have 120 days which is September 17th at 11:59pm for redemption of these. To cash these items in take them to the "Circus Circus" casino cage twenty four hours a day.

"Circus Circus" Casino Cage

2880 Las Vegas Blvd South

Las Vegas, NV 89109

"Sahara" To Close Today

The legenadary "Sahara" tonight is going to go dark today and close for good to make way for a possible new project the SLS hotel in 2014. SLS Hotel is the name of the new hotel resort that maybe will replace this legendary property which originally opened in 1952. The owners of the "Sahara" have said the resort will be knocked down to make way for it. I have been at Las Vegas resort closings before and they are a sad affair as people are out of a job who for some cases have worked at a property for decades. The last of the guests check out and secuirty does sweeps of the hotel floors you will also see employees grouping together and talking as well as hugging. The security personnel and casino management then put tape over sections of machines as people arn't in that area and close them for good. As table games become empty they are closed while guests remain playing at the remaining tables. As the closing time draws near security or hotel staff will go around and say no more money put in slots or at close they will ask you to cash out your money. Playing table games as the closing time draws near can be strange with pit bosses saying final bets or hands and after final hands are played there can be clapping or crying by the employees. I won't be there for the "Sahara" closing but this is how it happened at other properties in town such as "Maxim", "Stardust" and the "New Frontier' and im sure this will be similar. The "Sahara" owners SBE have been working with MGM to place former "Sahara" employees and i hope that happens for most of them. As another historic property is razed for a resort that may or may not be built the North Strip becomes an area littered with empty lots or half finished hotels and for the next few years this doesn't look like its going to change.

"Sahara" Reservations Switched To "Circus Circus"

The legendary "Sahara" hotel is due to close tomorrow and if you have a reservation after today it has been moved to the big clown property down the street "Circus Circus." The MGM owned property will honor the reservation with a compliementary upgrade to there west tower rooms. The rooms at the "Circus Circus" are of similar quality and the property is closer to other resorts so it should be okay for most customers. Its nice that the "Sahara" worked out with MGM to honor the reservations they could have just cancelled them.

For existing "Sahara" reservations call

Circus Circus 1 (877) 521-5201

with you "Sahara" confirmation number

Dean, Frank & Jerry On Wall At "Sahara"

"Sahara" Back Entrance

Another in a series of photos leading up to the close of the "Sahara" on May 16th