County hopes River City Casino generates big payout
St. Louis Business Journal
December 11, 2009
by Annemarie Schumacher
Las Vegas-based Pinnacle Entertainment, which currently operates Lumiere Place in downtown St. Louis, is putting the finishing touches on its newest area property, River City Casino. The property, for which ground was broken in November 2005, is slated to open in early 2010, pending licensure by the Missouri Gaming Commission.
The entertainment complex is situated on approximately 56 acres of land leased from the Port Authority in the unincorporated portion of south St. Louis County known as Lemay. It sits on the former National Lead and National Imagery and Mapping Agency sites.
The development spurred the cleanup of abandoned brownfields and has breathed life into a long-neglected tract of land. Over 16,000 tons of contaminated material was removed and disposed of prior to construction and more than a million tons of fill dirt were imported onto the site. The total cost of the remediation exceeded $18 million.
"Where we once had brownfields, we now have a property that is functional and valuable," said St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley. "In addition, the recently completed Lemay access road, an integral part of the casino project, provides increased access for emergency vehicles and improves the lives of the residents in the community."
Pinnacle funded the construction of the $23.8 million, 1.5-mile public roadway. The thoroughfare serves as an East-West link between Interstate 55 and Lemay Ferry Road. It required two congressional acts to complete.
"Good roads lead to good jobs," said U.S. Representative Russ Carnahan, who represents the third district. "By working together strategically, like we did on this project, we can hopefully put people back to work and build a stronger economy for the long term."
And Pinnacle plans to become one of the Lemay area's largest employers. The project has already created 600 union construction jobs. Prior to opening, Pinnacle will be staffing the property with approximately 1,000 permanent jobs and hundreds of ancillary service jobs.
"The casino industry is a key area of the overall hospitality industry," said Todd George, vice president and general manager of River City Casino. George, who previously served in that position at Lumiere Place, was moved to the new casino in mid-October. Kim Townsend, a Pinnacle employee who most recently worked in Atlantic City, has replaced George at Lumiere Place.
George said the casino will be hiring dealers, attendants, slot technicians, and security, as well as filling corporate functions such as accounting, finance and human resources.
Full-time positions will include benefits such as 401(k) plans and paid vacation, as well as medical, dental and vision coverage.
"We're fighting for every job right now," Dooley said. "We need to put people to work. These jobs have benefits, health care, the things that are important to make people's lives better."
The company has created a Web site, workatrivercity.com, to inform potential candidates of openings.
Many of the available jobs will be in the property's dining operations, which will include the area's first Jeff Ruby's Steakhouse.
In addition, the property will host a buffet with seating for more than 350; a 100-seat tavern and beer garden with hundreds of brews on tap; a casual, contemporary café; and a classic "burger joint." A yet-to-be-named lounge will host a variety of entertainment acts and will be situated half on the gaming floor and half off of the gaming floor.
One of the most unique features of the property is its size and layout.
"At 90,000 square feet, this is the biggest one-level casino in St. Louis County," George said. "It's one barge, one level."
By comparison, Lumiere Place is approximately 75,000 square feet. River City's gaming floor will play host to more than 2,100 slot machines and more than 50 gaming tables, including 10 poker tables.
In addition, George noted the unique interior finishes that have been incorporated to make the property stand out. Working with Avery Brooks & Associates as their interior design firm, Pinnacle incorporated themes of the 1904 World's Fair into the design. They even extended the theme to the complex's artwork and its employee uniforms.
"The lighting and ceiling heights we've incorporated will give our guests a cozy experience," George said. "We've included unique cutouts and curves, with different elevations and different carpets to make this property unique."
The casino is only the first phase of the project, and Pinnacle has committed to investing $375 million in this phase alone. The second phase, which will include a 100-room hotel, as well as other amenities, is projected to be an additional $75 million investment.
Dooley said the county anticipates River City Casino will generate $25.5 million in local tax revenue annually. "This money will go to the fire department, schools and police department," he said. "And this project does not include any tax increment financing. (TIF) It is one of the largest projects going on in St. Louis County without TIF."
Pinnacle also has provided $5.1 million toward the development of a 30,000-square-foot community center within Lemay, and the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded a $475,000 grant for the center.
"This is a win-win," Dooley said.
