Tim Ryan, tryan@wolfrivermedia.com
The people have spoken, and the Menominee Casino Resort listened.
With the help of input from focus groups made up of customers and guests, the casino implemented an $8.3 million improvement project that was recently completed. Grand opening ceremonies will take place at 1 p.m. ThursdayFeb. 12.
“It will be a whole cultural event celebrating the grand opening,” said Jim Reiter, general manager of Menominee Casino Resort.
Speakers will include Tribal Chair Laurie Boivin and representatives from the Menominee Tribal Gaming Authority, Miron Construction and LSE Architects of Minneapolis.
A drum group will perform a welcoming song, and a flag song will be performed as Menominee veterans present the colors.
Visitors can expect a dramatic and modern update to the entrance facade and a number of changes to the casino facility and its 25,000 square feet of gaming space.
“We’ve listened to our guests who have said that they would like a new, clean environment to do their gaming,” Reiter said. “We wanted to provide that for them and give them the best possible experience in their leisure time.”
The main goal of the renovation, Reiter said, was to provide a guest-focused, world-class casino experience by connecting all the features of the establishment: casino, entertainment, meetings, lodging and events.
To that end, all facilities now share a common, self-contained floor that links all of the facilities and makes it easier for customers and guests to get around.
That was a key suggestion that came out of the focus groups, Reiter said.
“Every decision was made with the guest experience in mind,” he said.
The casino floor has been raised about four feet to allow for a state-of-the-art air exchange system underneath that will pump more fresh air into the casino.
A new slot area will hold 820 slot games, while the new table games area includes a separate poker room.
Reiter said many players prefer table games in an area where they won’t be surrounded by the slot machines.
“It’s a lot quieter and less smokey,” he said. “It’s more enjoyable for the players.”
The casino is in the process of razing the old metal building that served as the Bingo hall, having already replaced it with a more comfortable facility that has better access to the rest of the casino and resort and a more pleasant environment.
The new Bingo hall, at a capacity of 240, holds a little more than half of what the old one could seat. However, Reiter said, fewer people are playing Bingo these days.
Other improvements include a new bar and lounge area, a new snack shop and grill, and a new hotel check-in area, now more conveniently located in the convention center.
Menominee Casino Resort last underwent an expansion in 2010 that included the event and convention center, but discussions about the most recent improvements started shortly after that project was completed, according to Reiter.
“We’ve been talking about it for the last couple of years,” he said.
The new gaming floor opened for business during the hunting season last fall. The new bingo hall opened last month, and the new cafe opened last weekend.
“It’s worked out very well,” said Reiter, who has heard lots of positive comments from customers and guests so far.
“This has been a cooperative effort (with) the tribe, Menominee gaming authority and staff working as a team to make this happen. There was a lot of team work, great planning, and even the guests contributed through the focus groups,” Reiter said.
The Menominee Casino Resort employs about 500 people, but that number increases during the summer months.
Tribal officials say the current renovation project is expected to lead to an increase in tourism and stays in the area, benefiting the local economy and area businesses.