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Published Monday, March 30, 2009 | 10:43 p.m.
Updated Wednesday, April 29, 2009 | 12:32 a.m.
Why would Las Vegas Sands Corp. board member Michael Leven want to take over as president and chief operating officer at the gaming company, replacing the ousted William Weidner?
According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Leven said, "I'm going to help a friend.''
Leven, who left his post as chief executive of the Georgia Aquarium to take the Las Vegas job, was referring to Las Vegas Sands Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Sheldon Adelson. "That is what you do,'' Leven said.
"It’s not totally altruistic. I’m getting paid very well," the 71-year-old Leven told the newspaper. "But it’s not about the money. It’s about helping (Adelson) and the challenge of getting it done. How many people at 71 get an opportunity like this, a challenge of this magnitude? I’m very energized about it."
He added, laughing, the job "is a great way to go out … as long as you don’t go out feet first."
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Sin City Brewing Co.'s second Las Vegas microbrewery is now open daily 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. in the Flamingo Las Vegas. The first location is at the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood.
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BJ's Restaurants Inc. of Huntington Beach, Calif., opened a restaurant in the Henderson area at 9520 S. Eastern Ave., just south of the I-215 Beltway. Seating 280 guests, this is the second BJ's locally with the company saying its Summerlin location has been producing strong sales.
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Denny's opened restaurants in three of Station Casinos' Wildfire Gaming properties: Wildfire Casino & Lanes, 4451 E. Sunset Road in Henderson; Wildfire Rancho, 1901 N. Rancho Drive in Las Vegas; and Wildfire Casino Boulder Highway, 2000 S. Boulder Highway in Henderson. The restaurants are owned and operated by franchise owner Mancha Development Co. Denny's earlier opened at Station's Fiesta Rancho in October 2008 and two additional locations at Fiesta Henderson and the Wild Wild West are opening in the coming months.
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Jerry's Nugget Casino hopes to cash in on the United States Bowling Congress tournament continuing at the nearby Cashman Center through July. Jerry's Nugget is offering complimentary limousine rides for the bowlers to and from the casino, along with gaming and dining specials to the tournament participants.
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The Food Express II Chinese Restaurant has opened at Palace Station hotel-casino on Sahara Avenue. Besides offering its food at the restaurant, Food Express II serves meals at Palace Station's Pit 8, a specialized table-games pit offering baccarat, pai gow poker and pai gow tile games favored by Asians.
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Miracle Mile Shops said new tenants that have opened or will open soon include Club Tattoo, Rock & Roll Religion, DC Shoes and American Apparel.
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Canyon Gate Medical Group opened a primary medical care office next to Southern Hills Hospital at 9280 West Sunset Road, Suite 426.
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Proshop Motorsports and Marine in Henderson added a major new product line: Yamaha Waverunners.
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Despite the recession, Verizon Wireless rewarded its nearly 250 local employees, along with thousands more nationwide, with bonuses after another profitable year.
Typical front-line customer service staffers and non-commissioned employees received between 9 and 10 percent of their salary as a bonus, based on the company's 2008 results.
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A MiniCare clinic is due to open May 1 at the Meadows Mall. President Barry Michaels says MiniCare is a nonprofit that will offer clinic visits for $22 and an annual membership fee of $5 for individuals and $15 for families. Dr. Maxine Ingham will be the medical director.
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T. B. Penick & Sons Inc., a contractor based in San Diego that is working on the CityCenter project, said it opened a satellite office in Las Vegas.
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Unicahome, which runs an online and retail home and design showroom, said it's having a trunk show and barbecue April 4 to promote products such as ORE outdoor planters and furniture. Unicahome is at 3901 W. Russell Road near Valley View Boulevard. The company said its new 19,000-square-foot showroom will also be used for other special events such as designer appearances and book signings.
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Drs. Toni Margio and Randy Bryson opened Las Vegas Beautiful Smiles, a cosmetic dentistry practice, at 1781 Village Center Circle in Summerlin. Through June, the center is offering $300 teeth whitening services with all of the proceeds going to the Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation and the Smiles for Life campaign, a national program that contributes financial resources to children’s charities, such as Teammates for Kids.
Good luck to Michael Leven. Maybe he'll replace the departing Sands execs with other people "in their golden years" who actually have had experience in living through and learning from a few prior recessions, and whose parents lived through the Depression and shaped their childrens lives to be prepared for today's circumstances.
My bet: If Leven hires the right golden oldies, Sands will survive while other casino chains may fail.