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Main Street Station (hotel and casino)

Coordinates: 36°10′27″N 115°08′44″W / 36.174266°N 115.145441°W / 36.174266; -115.145441
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Main Street Station
Main Street Station in 2018
Main Street Station is located in Downtown Las Vegas
Main Street Station
Main Street Station is located in Nevada
Main Street Station
Location Las Vegas, NV
Address 200 North Main Street
Opening date1978; 46 years ago (1978)
ThemeVictorian era
No. of rooms406
Total gaming space26,918 sq ft (2,500.8 m2)
Signature attractionsTriple 7 microbrewery
Notable restaurantsGarden Court
Casino typeLand-based
OwnerBoyd Gaming
Previous namesHoliday International (1978–1984)
Park Hotel and Casino (1987–1990)
Renovated in1987, 1990–91, 1996
Websitemainstreetcasino.com

Main Street Station is a hotel and casino in downtown Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned by Boyd Gaming. It originally opened in 1978 as the Holiday International, part of the Holiday Inn franchise. The casino portion closed in 1980, due to financial problems, and the hotel closed four years later. The property was renovated by Japanese investor Katsuki Manabe as the Park Hotel and Casino, which operated from 1987 to 1990.

Florida developer Bob Snow purchased the property and renovated it further, reopening it as Main Street Station on August 30, 1991. It featured a Victorian theme and various antiques, which came from Snow's personal collection. Snow did not have experience in the gaming industry, and Main Street Station filed for bankruptcy four months after its opening. It closed in June 1992, and was sold to Boyd the following year. The company sometimes used the hotel to house overflow guests from its other downtown properties.

Main Street Station was fully reopened on November 22, 1996, after a $45 million renovation, which included the addition of a microbrewery known as Triple 7. The property's Victorian theme was retained. Main Street Station has 406 rooms and a 26,918 sq ft (2,500.8 m2) casino. The antique collection includes railroad cars and a portion of the Berlin Wall.

History

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Early years

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The property began as the Holiday International,[1][2] with construction starting in 1976.[3] The hotel opened in February 1978,[4] with 416 rooms.[5] The 16-story hotel was part of the Holiday Inn franchise, joining two other area locations, both on the Las Vegas Strip.[6] The property's casino was opened on June 30, 1978, and was operated by Major Riddle,[4] who leased it from Holiday International owner Louis Walter.[7]

Sign for the Holiday International, early 1980s

The casino closed in September 1980, after going into bankruptcy.[8][9] Kenilworth Systems Corporation, based in New York, planned to reopen the casino in 1982 as a testing ground for its cashless, computerized gambling system.[10][11][12] However, Kenilworth soon encountered financial difficulties,[13][14] and canceled its plans at the end of the year.[15] The hotel closed in 1984, following an extended worker strike which affected numerous Las Vegas resorts.[16][17]

The property reopened on September 3, 1987,[18] as the Park Hotel and Casino. It was developed by Japanese investor Katsuki Manabe,[8][17] who spent approximately $13 million on refurbishments.[19] Walter remained as owner, leasing the hotel-casino to Manabe.[20] The property included 435 rooms,[21] and 600 employees.[22]

Main Street Station

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In 1986, Florida developer Bob Snow announced a gambling, entertainment and retail complex in Las Vegas, to be known as Winchester Station.[23][24][25] It would be based on his Church Street Station complex in Orlando.[20]

In 1989, he sought to purchase the Park Hotel and use the site for Winchester Station,[26] later renamed Church Street Station, and then Main Street Station in reference to its address.[27][28] Snow's plans were partially funded by the Las Vegas Redevelopment Agency.[29][30] The city also used eminent domain to acquire nearby land, which was to be used for a second parking garage that was later canceled.[31][32]

Other downtown casinos filed a lawsuit to block Snow's project, and he filed a suit against them, accusing his future competitors of violating antitrust laws.[33] Snow's purchase of the Park Hotel was completed in February 1990.[34] He closed it seven months later, allowing for new construction on the interior and exterior.[35][36][37] A collector of antiques,[38] Snow renovated the property to feature a Victorian theme[39] with various pieces from his collection;[40][41][42] additional items were to be displayed in a future expansion.[38]

Main Street Station opened on August 30, 1991.[40] Snow lacked experience in the gaming industry,[39] and the property suffered financial problems from the start, filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy four months after its opening.[41] The hotel-casino owed $40 million in debt.[43] As a result, operations were scaled back on June 9, 1992, and the property fully closed six days later.[44][45] Various items from Snow's collection were auctioned to help reduce the debt.[43][45][46]

Main Street Station exterior and casino floor around 2010

Snow hoped to find a buyer or investor before the property went into receivership.[45][47] Entertainer Debbie Reynolds considered partnering with Snow,[48] but this did not pan out. Bank of America foreclosed on the hotel-casino in September 1992.[49] Snow, nevertheless, continued to seek out investors to reopen Main Street Station and then expand it with the planned retail and entertainment component,[50] which ultimately went unbuilt. Several prospective buyers emerged in 1993,[51] and Boyd Gaming bought the property at the end of the year for $16.5 million.[52][53] The company sometimes used the hotel to house overflow guests from its nearby California and Fremont properties.[54][55]

At the end of 1995, Boyd announced that it would fully reopen Main Street Station the following year.[54] The company launched a $45 million renovation of the property,[56] while maintaining the Victorian theme. Boyd made numerous improvements, such as increasing the number of parking spaces,[39][57] renovating rooms,[58] and enhancing the back-of-house facilities. Chandeliers were kept on the casino floor, but additional lighting was added to brighten it. The property also had the benefit of a new downtown attraction, the nearby Fremont Street Experience.[39][57]

Main Street Station reopened on November 22, 1996.[8][59][60] It was marketed as a locals casino and became popular among area residents.[61] Like the California and Fremont, it is also popular among Hawaiian tourists.[62] The California and Main Street Station are connected by an enclosed walkway over Main Street.[58]

Nevada casinos were ordered to close in March 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the state. Although most casinos reopened within a few months, Main Street Station remained closed for more than a year.[63][64] It reopened on September 8, 2021.[65]

Features

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Main Street Station has 406 hotel rooms,[57][66][67] and a 26,918 sq ft (2,500.8 m2) casino.[68]

Upon its opening in 1991, a section of Main Street Station was branded Rosie O'Grady's Goodtime Emporium. It included two 100-foot bars, a billiard parlor, a pub, and restaurants.[36][69] Main Street Station featured several new restaurants upon its reopening in 1996,[70] including the Garden Court buffet,[71] which is styled in the property's Victorian theme.[72][73] Triple 7, a restaurant and microbrewery,[71][74][75] is popular for its fruit-flavored brews.[76] The black cherry stout won a silver medal at the 1997 Great American Beer Festival, and won bronze two years later. The brewery won gold at the 2024 U.S. Open Beer Championship for its Belgium witbier.[77]

Railroad cars displayed outside of the hotel-casino in 2016, shortly before their removal

Main Street Station has various antiquities on display. The property allows self-guided tours of the collection,[78][79][80] which began during Snow's ownership.[8][39][81] The collection includes a three-ton piece of the Berlin Wall. It was purchased by Snow in 1990, and installed at Main Street Station for its 1996 reopening. It is located in the men's restroom and has urinals affixed to it.[82][83]

Other items include stained glass from Lillian Russell's mansion in Pennsylvania,[84] doors and the facade from the Kuwait Royal Bank, doors from the George Pullman Mansion,[85] chandeliers from a Coca-Cola building in Austin, Texas and Figaro Opera House in Paris,[86] and various statues.[87][88]

Since its 1991 opening, Main Street Station has also featured several railroad cars.[89][90] A pullman car, named after Louisa May Alcott, was incorporated into the interior of Lili Marlene's, a restaurant and pub. The Louisa Alcott car served as its own restaurant-within-a-restaurant.[91] The car has since been featured inside the Pullman Grille, which opened in 1996.[71][92][93] By 2016, the Pullman Grille had been closed for years as a fulltime restaurant, instead operating only during private events.[94]

Two other railroad cars, purportedly used by Buffalo Bill and others, were on display outside of the hotel-casino until 2017, when they and the land beneath them were sold.[95][96] The site was redeveloped as the parking garage for the Circa Resort & Casino.[97] One other railroad car remains on display outside the casino's north entrance.[95][98]

References

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  1. ^ "Lighting up a dark corner". Las Vegas Review-Journal. October 6, 1993. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  2. ^ "Main Street resurrected". Las Vegas Review-Journal. November 20, 1996. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  3. ^ "Downtown Inn". Las Vegas Review-Journal. October 4, 1976. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Riddle opens his 4th casino". Las Vegas Review-Journal. July 1, 1978. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  5. ^ "Union Plaza Hotel leases Holiday rooms for confab". Las Vegas Review-Journal. April 8, 1985. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  6. ^ "Downtown Holiday Inn". Las Vegas Review-Journal. December 12, 1976. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  7. ^ "Las Vegas casino operations approved". Reno Evening Gazette. Associated Press. June 23, 1978. Retrieved December 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ a b c d "Boyd Group betting on downtown". Las Vegas Sun. November 20, 1996 – via NewsBank.
  9. ^ "600 left jobless as casino in Las Vegas shuts doors". Reno Gazette-Journal. September 29, 1980.  – via Newspapers.com (subscription required)
  10. ^ "Kenilworth Plans Cashless Gambling". The Press of Atlantic City. January 24, 1982. Retrieved December 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "LI Firm Buys Casino to Test Product". Newsday. February 4, 1982. Retrieved December 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "N. Y. company buys downtown Holiday Casino". Las Vegas Review-Journal. January 12, 1982. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  13. ^ "IRS Seizes Assets of Plainview Firm". Newsday. June 4, 1982. Retrieved December 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "LI Video-Gambling Firm Makes Bankruptcy Filing". Newsday. September 1, 1982. Retrieved December 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Kenilworth Cancels Lease". Newsday. December 3, 1982. Retrieved December 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "Some still hurting from hotel strike". Ocala Star-Banner. AP. April 1, 1985.
  17. ^ a b Robert Macy (July 24, 1987). "Japanese investors eye Las Vegas with interest". Schenectady Gazette. AP.
  18. ^ Lalli, Sergio (September 4, 1987). "Park Hotel casino opens". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  19. ^ "Park Hotel Debut Signals Strength of Nevada in Gaming Industry". The Press of Atlantic City. September 13, 1987. Retrieved December 12, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ a b "Station plans complete". Reno Gazette-Journal. December 7, 1989. Retrieved December 13, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ "Vegas". The Press of Atlantic City. August 30, 1987. Retrieved December 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
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  23. ^ "Las Vegas might get Snow job". Orlando Sentinel. March 1, 1986. Retrieved December 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ "Rouse's Enterprise considers retail complex in Las Vegas–with gambling". The Baltimore Sun. March 12, 1986. Retrieved December 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
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  28. ^ "Snow Plays Name Game in Vegas". Orlando Sentinel. May 27, 1991. Retrieved December 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  29. ^ "Snow comeback". Elko Daily Free Press. July 25, 1994. Retrieved December 13, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  30. ^ Sebelius, Steve (May 18, 1996). "Dowtown [sic] redevelopment: Blessing or burden?". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  31. ^ Kulin, Dan (February 4, 2005). "Council members want Boyd land deal review". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  32. ^ "Boyd Gaming, city reach accord on downtown land". Las Vegas Sun. August 4, 2005. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  33. ^ "Vegas developer files lawsuit against resorts". Reno Gazette-Journal. February 6, 1990. Retrieved December 13, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  34. ^ "Florida developer defends Park deal". Las Vegas Review-Journal. February 22, 1990. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  35. ^ Gallant, John (September 6, 1990). "Park casino closes; 125 lose jobs". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  36. ^ a b "Construction moves outside at Church Street Station". Las Vegas Review-Journal. October 29, 1990. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  37. ^ "Lamp lights way to Church Street Station". Las Vegas Review-Journal. November 16, 1990. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  38. ^ a b "Casino owner slates auction of antiques". Elko Daily Free Press. May 4, 1992. Retrieved December 13, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  39. ^ a b c d e Thompson, Gary (November 15, 1996). "Main Street Station reopens with new look". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  40. ^ a b Patterson, Lamont (September 8, 1991). "Developer opens on track with Main Street Station". The Desert Sun. Retrieved December 13, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  41. ^ a b "Main Street Station files for bankruptcy". Reno Gazette-Journal. December 21, 1991. Retrieved December 13, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  42. ^ "Church Street Builder Tries Luck in Vegas". Orlando Sentinel. November 18, 1991. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
  43. ^ a b "Auction benefits Main Street debt". Reno Gazette-Journal. June 14, 1992. Retrieved December 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  44. ^ "Resort cuts back operations". Reno Gazette-Journal. June 10, 1992. Retrieved December 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  45. ^ a b c "Las Vegas resort closes; auction gets $3.8 million". Reno Gazette-Journal. June 16, 1992. Retrieved December 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
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  47. ^ "Snow pays tax". Elko Daily Free Press. Associated Press. June 19, 1992. Retrieved December 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  48. ^ "Efforts made to save Main Street Station". Elko Daily Free Press. July 3, 1992. Retrieved December 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  49. ^ "Main Street foreclosure complete". Reno Gazette-Journal. September 14, 1992. Retrieved December 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
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  51. ^ "Main Street". Elko Daily Free Press. Associated Press. February 6, 1993. Retrieved December 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  52. ^ "Boyd to buy Main Street". Elko Daily Free Press. October 9, 1993. Retrieved December 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  53. ^ Elliot S. Krane (December 19, 1993). "Boyd acquires bankrupt Main St. Station for $16.5M". Press of Atlantic City. Atlantic City, NJ – via NewsBank.
  54. ^ a b Edwards, John G. (November 2, 1995). "Boyd Gaming to revive Main Street Station". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  55. ^ "Boyd Gaming renovates Main Street Station". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. March 1, 1996. Retrieved December 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  56. ^ "Main Street Station Chugs Along". Las Vegas Review-Journal. May 5, 1996. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  57. ^ a b c Shemeligian, Bob (November 19, 1996). "City officials boost Main Street Station". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  58. ^ a b "Boyd wins approval to reopen long-closed Main Street Station". Reno Gazette-Journal. October 28, 1996. Retrieved November 28, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  59. ^ "The Second Time Around". Las Vegas Review-Journal. November 18, 1996. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
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  61. ^ Velotta, Richard N. (February 19, 2010). "Q&A: John Repetti". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
  62. ^ Leff, Lisa (October 27, 2002). "The Ninth Hawaiian Island". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  63. ^ Shoro, Mike (August 9, 2021). "Main Street Station finally has reopening date". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
  64. ^ Curtis, Anthony (August 15, 2021). "Las Vegas Advisor: Main Street casino in Vegas announces reopening date". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
  65. ^ "Main Street Station in downtown Las Vegas reopens". KSNV. September 8, 2021. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  66. ^ Smith, Hubble (April 5, 2007). "Rooms with a vroom". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  67. ^ Ross, McKenna (May 28, 2024). "Here's how many hotel rooms Boyd Gaming has in Las Vegas". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  68. ^ "Listing of Financial Statements Square Footage (2017 data)". Nevada Gaming Control Board. March 6, 2018. p. 6. Archived from the original on December 25, 2016.
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  70. ^ Stevens, Muriel (November 26, 1996). "Main Street Station reopens with flavor-filled preview". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  71. ^ a b c "Refurbished Main Street Station features variety of eating options". Las Vegas Review-Journal. November 29, 1996. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
  72. ^ Schultz, Brandon (March 5, 2023). "Every Las Vegas Casino Buffet, Ranked From Worst To Best". Mashed. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  73. ^ Kachelriess, Rob (May 18, 2023). "From Classic to Classy, Here Are the Best Buffets in Las Vegas". Thrillist. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  74. ^ "Main Street brew pub now open all day long". Las Vegas Sun. April 25, 1997. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  75. ^ Smith, Hubble (August 24, 1998). "Eclectic lagers and entertainment help microbreweries thrive". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on September 15, 2000.
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  82. ^ Padgett, Sonya (November 16, 2000). "Bathroom Trends: What a Way to Go". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on June 24, 2001.
  83. ^ Goldberg, Delen (October 21, 2011). "Main Street Station's bathroom stalls out in top 10". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
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  90. ^ "Main Street Station uses vintage rail cars". Los Angeles Times. December 4, 1991. Retrieved December 15, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  91. ^ "Dining car is now at Main Street". Los Angeles Times. November 3, 1991. Retrieved December 15, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
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  93. ^ Knapp Rinella, Heidi (March 4, 2005). "Restaurant Review: Pullman Grille". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on March 8, 2005.
  94. ^ Martin, Bradley (July 18, 2016). "Redwood Grill Remodel Shunts Guests to Main Street's Pullman Grille". Eater. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
  95. ^ a b Roeben, Scott (January 9, 2017). "Vintage Train Cars at Downtown's Main Street Station Find New Home". Casino.org. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
  96. ^ "Question of the Day". Las Vegas Advisor. March 14, 2017. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
  97. ^ Katsilometes, John (January 10, 2019). "Circa is Las Vegas pioneer Derek Stevens' chosen title". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
  98. ^ "Pullman & CIWL News" (PDF). SREMG. March 2013. p. 17. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
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