Casino rises from ashes at site where Empress burned down
By Bob Okon Herald
A rebuilt and rebranded Hollywood casino — erected after a fire engulfed the former Empress last year — opened in Joliet Wednesday.
“It’s very impressive — better than the old place,” customer Jim Jurszyk said as celebrity look-a-likes mingled with the crowd in the $70 million Penn National Gaming casino.
“This is gorgeous.”
At the ribbon-cutting ceremony, former casino general manager Frank Quigley said he was impressed with the project that includes a pavilion featuring Hollywood lights, screens and 1930s art deco decor.
“I always knew it was going to be bigger and better,” said Quigley, who stayed to head up the early reconstruction work.
“If you ever could say the fire was a good thing, you could look at it now and say that.”
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