Post by mrvegas on Mar 12, 2011 2:02:54 GMT -5
The aging Sahara Hotel will close on May 16 with ownership saying it was "no longer economically viable" to keep the nearly 60-year-old iconic Strip resort operating.
Sahara owner SBE Entertainment of Los Angeles announced Friday morning the 1,720-room Moroccan-themed hotel-casino would close while the company explores plans for the site at the corner of the Strip and Sahara Boulevard.
The resort's 1,050 employees were notified Friday morning of the property's closing plans under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act. The federal law requires that employees receive a 60-day notice that a business is ceasing operations.
SBE Entertainment Chief Executive Officer Sam Nazarian said his company still plans to redevelop the Sahara and its nearly 18-acre land parcel.
"We are working with our partners to assess a variety of options for the property, including a complete renovation and repositioning," Nazarian said. "While no final decisions have been made at this point the continued operation of the aging Sahara was no longer economically viable."
The Sahara includes the NASCAR Entertainment Center, which includes the NASCAR Café and Speed -- The Ride, a rollercoaster along the Strip. The Sahara is also home to House of Lords, a historic Las Vegas steakhouse.
The hotel and casino will continue to operate until May 16. All hotel room reservations and players club events will be honored until that date.
I wonder if whatever replaces the Sahara will keep Speed- IMO it's the best coaster on The Strip. The north end of The Strip has just been struggling much more so than the rest of The Strip lately.
Sahara owner SBE Entertainment of Los Angeles announced Friday morning the 1,720-room Moroccan-themed hotel-casino would close while the company explores plans for the site at the corner of the Strip and Sahara Boulevard.
The resort's 1,050 employees were notified Friday morning of the property's closing plans under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act. The federal law requires that employees receive a 60-day notice that a business is ceasing operations.
SBE Entertainment Chief Executive Officer Sam Nazarian said his company still plans to redevelop the Sahara and its nearly 18-acre land parcel.
"We are working with our partners to assess a variety of options for the property, including a complete renovation and repositioning," Nazarian said. "While no final decisions have been made at this point the continued operation of the aging Sahara was no longer economically viable."
The Sahara includes the NASCAR Entertainment Center, which includes the NASCAR Café and Speed -- The Ride, a rollercoaster along the Strip. The Sahara is also home to House of Lords, a historic Las Vegas steakhouse.
The hotel and casino will continue to operate until May 16. All hotel room reservations and players club events will be honored until that date.
I wonder if whatever replaces the Sahara will keep Speed- IMO it's the best coaster on The Strip. The north end of The Strip has just been struggling much more so than the rest of The Strip lately.