Downtown Las Vegas casino lays off nearly 700 workers

[Grant]

LAS VEGAS (AP) - The owners of the Lady Luck hotel-casino in downtown Las Vegas on Monday announced plans to lay off nearly 700 employees, saying a massive renovation was forcing them to close the property.

The 758-room hotel-casino will shut its doors on Feb. 12. A reopening date has not been determined.

Andrew Donner, CEO of the Henry Brent Company, the owners of the property, called the decision to lay off the majority of the casino's staff a "difficult yet necessary business decision."

"We looked at every scenario possible to keep the property fully open during the renovation. But in reality it would be difficult to provide guests with a good experience or attract the number of visitors we'd need to maintain our staff," Donner said in a statement.

The company fired 125 workers Monday, effective immediately. Another 559 were given 60 days notice.

Donner's group bought the aging casino and nearby businesses in April from Mississippi-based Isle of Capri. The company is involved in efforts to revitalize the Las Vegas' downtown.

It also owns a cluster of high-end restaurants and bars in the Lady Luck. Those businesses will remain open during the renovation.

Source: AP

[Grant]

So only the casino/hotel is closing?

I am confused...

[Livinthedream]

Agree how much traffic would the restaurants have without a casino. Other places have remained opened during renovations ,strange

[GREGRIO]

HOTEL/CASINO TO CLOSE FOR REMODELING
The Lady Luck in downtown Las Vegas will close Feb. 12 for a year-long remodeling. The closure will involve the 711-room hotel and the casino. The Lady Luck will lay off 684 employees. The closure will not affect any of the restaurants and clubs on Third Street.
posted 10:15 a.m. 12/11/05


...Henry Brent did not disclose any details of the Lady Luck's remodeling plans, saying an announcement would be made in the next few months.

The closure affects the hotel and casino portions of the Lady Luck. Five restaurants and clubs along Third Street that are owned by Henry Brent and leased to operators -- Triple George Grill, Hogs & Heifers Saloon, Sidebar and Celebrity -- will remain open, as will the hotel's parking garage and valet parking that serves the Third Street locations. Fifteen time-shares operated by the Lady Luck will not be closed...

[doctor_al]

Hell of a move, but I have to say I don't see how you could do this without closing. Just not that big of a property. The upside is if they really make a decent place out of it. Triple George and Hogs/Heifers are pretty nice (they're on the street across from the casino). The casino, I get no good vibe from it. I keep going up there to use matchplays, keep walking away disappointed. Some day I'll learn.