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Las Vegas Club

Discussion in 'Downtown Hotels' started by KimberlyJ, Jan 28, 2014.

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  1. KimberlyJ

    KimberlyJ Low-Roller

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    My husband was telling me how he doesn't even know how the Las Vegas Club can stay open. When we were there in January it was very slow and deserted. At first I thought the place was closed. We were then discussing if this was a hotel and casino at one time? I went to their website and it sounds like maybe there once was a hotel, are they remodeling or is the hotel permanently closed?
     
  2. ernestoc33

    ernestoc33 Low-Roller

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    Until the last year the hotel was fully operational (most of the time). Last April they announced that they would be closing the hotel and hinted that they might remodel the hotel and rooms. They even hinted at one point that The Amazing Johnathan would help with the décor. They made it seem like it was only temporary, but then again that's what they said about Binions Hotel lol.

    Honestly the rooms needed to be closed. They were they worst and most run down on Fremont.
     
  3. vegasvic

    vegasvic VIP Whale

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    It used to be a great place to stay and play. Lively. It was co-owned by Jackie Gaughan and Mel Exber. Exber was a sports nut and there was all kinds of cool memorabilia in the place. The coffee shop was called the Upper Deck (it was upstairs). They had a gourmet room, Great Moments that was fantastic. When Exber died in 2002 Gaughan sold the place and that was the beginning of the end. It's interesting how guys like Gaughan, Exber and Binion could run successful casinos and the corporations that took over for the most part can't. Beancounters with spreadsheets don't know jack about gamblin' joints.

    Here's a good John L. Smith read from 2009 about Gaughan and downtown

    http://www.reviewjournal.com/john-l-smith/last-king-downtown-jackie-gaughan-made-money-plenty-friends
     
  4. KimberlyJ

    KimberlyJ Low-Roller

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    thanks for the info!
    :nworthy:
     
  5. Jade88

    Jade88 High-Roller

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    We stayed there when we got married back in 2006. Stayed in the north tower and was happy with our stay. The room was cheap and clean, service was great. Sad to see it go down so much.
     
  6. jwkick

    jwkick Low-Roller

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    busy on friday jan 17

    It was packed on that friday and the 2.00 beers where why we where stayed. Sounds like it is very hit and miss with the crowds
     
  7. Iu25

    Iu25 High-Roller

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    Funny, we stayed there when we got married in 06 as well! Place used to have 3-4 places to eat, most were very good too! Hotel was a bit run down but nice and clean when we stayed. Casino was very busy as well. It's taken a big turn for the worse, which is a shame! They used to have one of the best sports memorabilia collection I had ever seen, even the Upper Deck restaurant had its walls covered with jerseys and autographed pictures! Sad stuff, although its gotten busier lately!
     
  8. C0usineddie

    C0usineddie VIP Whale

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    It will come back. Its just in a holding pattern right now.
     
  9. MikeOPensacola

    MikeOPensacola El Jefe

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    Agreed. It is just too good of a location to wither on the vine. :peace: :beer:
     
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  10. ilshan

    ilshan Tourist

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    This. I hate walking down Fremont Street and seeing what a decrepit hulk the Vegas Club is. If I had a gazillion dollars I'd buy it and turn it into a steampunk themed casino/hotel.
     
  11. smartone

    smartone VIP Whale

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    Great column! Thanks for sharin' that!
     
  12. Vegas Insight

    Vegas Insight MIA

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    i have no idea why the fascination with "steampunk," but i'd never spend money on a theme like that, you'll be dead in five years.

    i stayed in a run down room a few years ago during a solo trip. four nights, including a friday, cost me next to nothing. since it's under the same ownership as the plaza, i'd like to think there's hope for the old towers. although the plaza isn't setting the world on fire, despite the nice makeover of the casino floor and positive reviews of the rooms.

    the stevens have done a nice job making the D a vibrant location downtown with decent rooms. those tower rooms will never be 5-star, that tower wasn't built to be, but they improved the rooms and brought new life to the casino, providing a hip, young vibe downstairs and plenty of old-school appeal in the upstairs. we need another ownership like the stevens to take over vegas club and show the corporate world how it is done.

    so many people know how to do it right, it's a shame that vegas club has been run wrong for the past decade.
     
  13. makikiboy

    makikiboy VIP Whale

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    I doubt it will amount to anything as long as the same management team thats running the Plaza to the ground runs the LVC. They need to sell LVC to owners who know how to run a hotel casino.

    Actually I liked staying at the lvc. rates were low so I could spend my money elsewhere (gambling, etc.). It is centrally located (unlike the EC) so very easy to get in and out and around, don't have to walk very far to hit all the other casinos.

    I last stayed at the lvc in 2012, about 2 years ago. The south tower rooms were undergoing some remodeling, using the extra materials from the plaza renovation (carpets, etc.). They closed off one tower or some floors at a time to do the renovations. I don't know whatever came of that though. Last year they closed down the front desk area and back area, guess if they ever reopen the rooms guests will probably have to check in at the Plaza to get their keys.

    steampunk theme would never work downtown, another crazy idea but not the type that would bring in the grinders and downtown crowd IMHO.

    Maybe if boyd bought the LVC and created accesses (overhead walkways, etc.) to get from the Cal to the LVC (a la Cal/MSS promenade) then the place might amount to something but until the LVC gets bought out I doubt that the place would amount to much.

    Such a waste. :Þ
     
  14. tvon

    tvon VIP Whale

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    I think its a great concept.. but then again, i love themed things, which is not the trend now.

    But i remember LVC in the early 00's.. always lots of fun, decent gaming, reasonably clean rooms (very basic, but cheap). I used to use the parking lot there as it was the closest free lot (they validated anyone). Now they dont validate, everytime it looks more and more worn. No food, just bad. Its crazy like mentioned, those guys could run a good casino.. these corps have no clue what they are doing.
     
  15. MikeOPensacola

    MikeOPensacola El Jefe

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    Steampunk , not sure about the staying power, but it would sure as hell beat what they are doing now. Personally, I would remodel the place in an Art Deco motif. Art Deco never gets passé and with all the people who go down there, me included, who like to revisit the past a little bit I think this theme would work.

    That aside the real issue is to get an owner there who understands gaming and implements a business model that will attract gaming and hotel guests. The location coupled with the correct ownership would be a goldmine.

    :peace::beer:
     
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  16. Nevada1278

    Nevada1278 Low-Roller

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    I have a soft spot for the LVC. It was the first place I played slots (a machine down the ghostly back end of the casino!)

    Still can't resist putting a $20 in the Planet Moolah by the side door. I've had some great wins there. Not so much recently though...

    The drink service seems to be better than it has been. Certainly better than the Plaza. But since they've got rid of those 'Loosest slots' signs, what's the draw?

    The Boyd idea isn't a bad one.
     
  17. ernestoc33

    ernestoc33 Low-Roller

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    If Boyd bought them out they could make it viable. They have really turned around so many other failing properties nation wide. They know what works and what doesn't. They really appreciate their grinders too.
     
  18. bluesdude

    bluesdude VIP Whale

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    I know we are all speculating at this point, but I don't think Boyd at this time has the resources to take on another project. Not long ago they bought a casino near Wichita and one near Dubuque. Not sure if any changes have been made at either of them yet. Anybody know of any updates on these? Probably a topic for a different thread.
     
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  19. gregluvsvegas

    gregluvsvegas Roller

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    I was at Diamond Jo Worth in Iowa on Christmas day. I kind of liked the place. Feels a lot like other Boyd props. Lots of older machines with a few new ones. I actually don't mind this. They use a different comp program there (Diamond Club). I was told that they should be coverting to B Connected sometime this year.

    I get mailers about 2 times a week since my visit usally with about $70 of FP. They also have sent offers with $25 of "gas money" to get there. Boyd dosen't own the (attached) hotel on the property. This may be an Iowa thing.

    Getting back to LVC. I think the big problem with them is that the casino and hotel are managed by different companies (same with the Plaza). To me this seems to be a bad combo. The same thing is going on over at DT Grand. I think the hotel and casino need to work under the same umbrella for there to be synergy. I can't think of any hotel/casino working under this operating model that is successful, at least in Vegas. In the case of LVH I believe the casino is managed by Navegante (if my research is correct). They seem to specialize in managing casinos in distressed properties.
     
  20. Iu25

    Iu25 High-Roller

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    One of my very first times playing a slot in Vegas was back there as well, I think it might have been my wife and I, and possibly 1 other person! There used to be a game back there called Strong Man, it was a carnival theme with a crier yelling come one, come all. If you got a bonus and things went right, you could make a bundle on that game! My wife loves it, but its really almost impossible to find any longer!
     
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