Hard Rock plans Vegas expansion

Thursday, Oct. 9, 1997 | 9:56 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Owner Peter Morton has big expansion plans for his Hard Rock hotel-casino in Las Vegas.

He told the state Gaming Control Board Wednesday he wants to build a 300-room tower, a six-story 1,100 car parking garage and three new restaurants.

Morton said plans call for a health spa, expanding the Hard Rock Beach Club and adding four two-story garden bungalows. Since 1995, he said the occupancy for the 300-room hotel has been 100 percent at the business on Paradise Road.

Morton was before the board on Hard Rock's application to buy out the 40 percent interest held by Harveys Casino Resorts for $45 million. There has been a difference in philosophies on how to run the Las Vegas hotel-casino between Harveys and the Morton group.

Harveys owns a major hotel-casino at South Lake Tahoe and there has been speculation that it may invest in its own club in Las Vegas or Reno.

The board delayed a vote on the application until a special meeting next Tuesday. Board Chairman Bill Bible said the application was incorrect and needed to be straightened out. After a board recommendation, the Nevada Gaming Commission will meet Oct. 23 in Carson City to take final action on the application.

The purchase by Hard Rock Hotel Inc. from Harveys will boost Morton's holdings to more than 90 percent. The remainder is held by investors, including film producer John Avnet and MTV Chairman Tom Freston and Jeffrey Leeds, a New York investment banker.

Morton is founder of the Hard Rock Cafe chain.

The board recommended approval of five men to participate in the management of the Casablanca hotel-casino in Mesquite in Clark County, until their license to be shareholders is approved.

James A. Black, Michael T. Black and Gary W. Black -- who are all brothers and Barry R. Moore -- and Marcus Alexis Hall have submitted applications to be licensed as investors.

Hall, who is general manager at the Virgin River casino in Southern Nevada, said room occupancy at the Casablanca is usually 60 percent during the week and 80 percent on weekends. He said July was a poor month but August was much better. And he said the business in September was "pretty good."