North Las Vegas welcomes restaurants, meeting space

Friday, Jan. 3, 2003 | 9:53 a.m.

A themed casino is nothing new for Las Vegas, Henderson and the Strip. But in the city of North Las Vegas, the Cannery joins a mere handful of bigger casino-hotels offering an array of restaurants and bars in one building.

Business leaders appear to be welcoming the prospect, saying it will bring an upscale destination to a primarily industrial part of town -- lifting customer traffic for surrounding establishments and helping promote the region as a destination spot.

The casino has already brought in new business for Mulligan's Bar & Grill, a restaurant across the street on Craig Road.

"Our problem in this industrial area has been a heavy daytime business and quiet nights and quiet on the weekends," said Mulligan's general manager Rick Pollack.

A 24-hour casino will help other businesses nearby, he said.

"I'm expecting great things from it for my business. They did a wonderful job, it's a beautiful building, and they are a known management team."

Sharon Powers, president and chief executive of the North Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, said the casino will fill a gap in the northeast part of town.

"That section of North Las Vegas is still developing and is still sparse. When it's built up you're going to need additional services and restaurants."

Chamber members haven't expressed concern about competition so far, Powers said.

"Competition is a good thing because it really keeps people on their toes." Members have also welcomed other big casinos over the years, including Station Casinos Inc.'s Fiesta, Texas and Santa Fe, she said.

"They have done really well in that venue," she said. "It's going to be a property like the existing ones now, where a majority of the business is going to come from the area but we're going to get people from all over the valley."

While the Cannery will offer the usual variety of bars and restaurants, it won't offer a permanent nightclub or lounge entertainment, which has become a staple of many larger casinos.

It will offer something different, owners say, in the form of an multi-purpose entertainment and events center that can be decorated to suit any kind of party.

The center, which can open into a nearby buffet or to an outside parking lot, can be rented by a community organization or company that wants to organize an event. It will also be used for themed parties hosted by the Cannery for customers.

On opening night Thursday, the property kicked off a "Football Frenzy" event through January that will feature live music, food and beer specials, trivia games, football relays and throwing contests.

These bars and restaurants are in the Cannery: