Slot Machines Soon to Be Back Up and Running

Little more than three months after one of the biggest fire’s in the city of Joliet’s history, the Empress Casino is looking to reopen their doors. The fire had destroyed the pavilion that housed the restaurants and the ballroom, and thus the casino was shut down. According to General Manager Frank Quigley they did what they thought was right at the time and it turned out to be best for all involved.

The slot machines have been sitting quietly while repairs were made and come June 25th at 10:30 am the casino will be back up and running. Quigley said that their contractors, etc. have been great and that everything was running on time. He also said that they were planning on doing refurbishments this summer, so the fire sort of kick started the process and everything ended up getting done sooner rather than later.

The closing was initially devastating to the city, both from an economic and social point of view. Economically, the lack of slot machine revenue hurt them, but socially it was a place for residents to hang out at and talk. Now with it getting ready to reopen many are excited to have their hang out back again. Over the next year, year and a half, the patrons will enter through a long tent that is air conditioned to get to the slot machines.

As soon as the repairs are completed, they will again open through the permanent entrance. In the mean time this smaller structure will do just fine, and the other entrance will match the build out that they are doing on the inside.

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