Joliet Casino Debuts New Name, New Look
CHICAGO (WBBM) - It has almost been two years since a fire destroyed the gaming venue once known as Joliet's Empress Casino but after a $90 million dollar renovation will now reopen as Hollywood Casino Joliet.
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"There is now a 1,100 bay parking garage to provide our players with covered parking. We just completed a $60 million dollar pavilion to replace the pavilion we lost in the fire," said General Manager John Johnson, "It was a tragic event but it also gave us the opportunity to build a new pavilion with restaurants the way we really wanted them to be."
The new pavilion reflects 1930s art deco Hollywood and houses new dining and retail stores.
The pavilion will feature a new exterior design in keeping with the classic Hollywood theme, and guests will enter the facility via the porte cochere valet parking area or the entrance-way leading from the casino's self-park garage.
The pavilion will be marked by a giant chandelier; a 120-foot serpentine video wall to greet players with exciting video graphics, vintage commercials, and animation; and a video marquee that is a modern-day version of the historic Chicago Theater sign.
The entertainment pavilion will contain: Final Cut Steakhouse and piano bar; Epic Buffet; Hollywood Stadium sports bar (opening February 2011); and Rodeo Drive Gift Shop.
Johnson says they are still looking to hire 160 more employees, "We're looking for cooks and servers so if you want a good paying job, go to the casino website to apply."
When fully staffed, Johnson says they will employ over 950 people, a larger staff then before the fire.
