JOLIET, Ill. — It’s show time in Joliet.
Hollywood Casino Joliet – the former Empress Casino – on Wednesday premiered its new name and a spectacular $65 million pavilion that dramatically upgrades the property and widely expands the number of dining and entertainment choices available to guests.
Joliet Mayor Arthur Schultz and City Manager Tom Thanas joined Penn National Gaming
The new Hollywood Casino Joliet pavilion contains four first-class dining and entertainment venues: Final Cut Steakhouse and piano bar; a new and upgraded Epic Buffet; Rodeo Drive Gift Shop; and Hollywood Stadium sports bar, which is being completed ahead of schedule and is expected to open by early February 2011.
Reflecting the classic style and glamour of 1930s art deco Hollywood, the new pavilion replaces the former Egyptian-themed facility that was destroyed in a March 2009 fire. The casino re-opened in June 2009 but until Wednesday, had operated with a single restaurant buffet located on the gaming vessel.
“This is an incredibly satisfying day for everyone associated with our casino as we debut a new Hollywood feature in Chicagoland,” said Jon Johnson, Hollywood Casino Joliet vice president and general manager.
“We appreciate the patience and support of our loyal guests over the last 21 months, and thank our team members and the many individuals in the community and throughout the region who were instrumental in completing this incredible facility that flawlessly executes the Hollywood brand.”
The casino is providing needed economic stimulus to Will County with the addition of 157 new positions that increase the number of employees at the casino from 875 prior to the fire to 953 today.
Hollywood Casino Joliet shares the Hollywood brand name with its sister property in Aurora. The two Penn National Gaming casinos plan to introduce a joint players card program in early 2011, allowing guests to earn and use points between the two properties simultaneously.
Red-Carpet Treatment
Hollywood Casino Joliet delivers red-carpet treatment the minute guests arrive at the casino. The property’s new art-deco exterior is marked by a grand porte cochere where players can take advantage of complimentary valet parking.
Upon entering the new pavilion, patrons stroll under a magnificent chandelier and are greeted by a 120-foot serpentine video wall that features exciting video graphics, vintage commercials and animation. A video marquee that is a modern-day version of the historic Chicago Theatre sign leads guests to the dining venues.
“I think the Hollywood name says it all,” Johnson said. “In addition to action and fun on the casino floor, we can now offer our guests a more-comfortable and sophisticated atmosphere in our pavilion, where they can relax, be entertained and dine in style.”
Dine Like A Star
Final Cut Steakhouse, Hollywood Casino Joliet’s new signature dining spot, combines the best attributes of a Chicago-style steakhouse with the personality and panache of a “must see” Hollywood mainstay restaurant.
Guests can start their evening in the restaurant’s elegant piano lounge, where the tunes of former Sinatra-accompanist Phil Rossi are featured on the weekends.
Final Cut’s Midwest-meets-West style is carried out with California influences incorporated into the dcor, culinary offerings and wine list. The 68-seat main dining room features a menu of prime cuts and chops sourced from Midwestern purveyors including its featured tomahawk steak, a 30-ounce prime, bone-in rib eye.
Seafood lovers can enjoy traditional favorites like lobster and crab cakes joined by less-common selections such as Pacific halibut.
Other unique touches include a fine assortment of artisanal farmstead cheeses, bread and desserts baked on the premises and a comprehensive wine list of 120 to 140 selections that are almost exclusively Californian, in-cluding 20 wines offered by the glass. Small-estate and low-production wineries are featured, making boutique and collector wines available to Hollywood patrons.
Guests dine among displays of Hollywood’s past, including elegant gowns and tuxedos worn by stars that are contained in glass showcases throughout the restaurant. A 24-seat private dining room is available for special events or business functions.
The new 288-seat Epic Buffet, which replaces the temporary buffet previously located on the casino floor, is now open to families. The new Epic Buffet changes the perception and experience of buffet eating by incorporating the freshly made-to-order attributes of a menu restaurant with the variety offered by traditional buffet dining.
Epic Buffet is a collection of individual restaurants where items are prepared by chefs in small batches or upon request. Featured are a carving station with rotisserie grilled beef, chicken, leg of lamb, pork shoulder, duck and other meats; a rotating pizza oven with both deep-dish and Neopolitan-style flat dough; a make-your-own Asian noodle bar and salad bar; a rotating broiler offering brochettes of seafood, beef and poultry; a Mediterranean station with choices in humus, olives and fruit; and an expanded dessert station.
Seafood celebrations are held every Friday night and themed buffets are offered on Saturday nights. Full bar service, including liquor, craft beers and wines by the glass, is offered daily.
Community groups, family reunions, and special occasion events are hosted in Epic Buffet’s 108-seat private dining area. The room can be divided and reserved in advance, and there is a dedicated elevator from the parking garage.
Hollywood Stadium Sports Bar, opening by early February 2011, will have seating for 175 with 43 individual TV monitors throughout the restaurant and an 80-by-20-foot video wall above the bar capable of showing up to nine individual broadcasts at one time.
The restaurant will set a new standard in traditional bar fare by serving classic choices prepared with top cuts and fresh quality ingredients that are unmatched by any sports bar in the region.
A diverse American craft beer program is planned with 65 choices (20 on tap and 45 by bottle). Guests will enjoy live music – rock, country, and blues – on the weekends.
Let’s Shop
Guests looking for celebratory gifts or something fun from Tinseltown to take home to a family member or friend can choose from a wide selection of items at the stylish new Rodeo Drive Gift Shop.
Hollywood Casino logo apparel is featured, along with classic Hollywood memorabilia, sunglasses, handbags, fashion jewelry, bath and body items and seasonal gifts.
Action!
New games and features carry out the Hollywood theme on the casino’s gaming floor. A new Celebrity Pit brings a cast of celebrity entertainers to the casino who both perform and deal blackjack and three-card poker.
The celebrity impersonators, which span from Marilyn Monroe to Kid Rock, appear on weekend nights (Thurs.-Sat.) and Sunday afternoons.
In addition, cocktail bars on the gaming floor have been renovated to incorporate the 1930s Hollywood art deco design and in the coming weeks, slot machines will be repositioned and moved into the space previously occupied by the temporary buffet, which will create added space and comfort for guests on the casino floor.
About Hollywood Casino Joliet
Hollywood Casino Joliet, the former Empress Casino Joliet, is a Penn National Gaming casino conveniently located 45 minutes southwest of Chicago near the I-80/I-55 interchange in Joliet. The 50,000 square-foot-casino offers more than 1,100 slot machines, action-packed table games and multiple smoking environments conveniently located off the casino floor.
A new $65 million dining and entertainment pavilion opened on Dec. 22, 2010 featuring Final Cut Steakhouse, Epic Buffet, and Rodeo Drive Gift Shop. Hollywood Stadium Sports Bar will open by early February 2011. For more information, go to www.HollywoodCasinoJoliet.com.
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