Greek Isles owner refutes sale report

Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2005 | 10:55 a.m.

The owner of the Greek Isles hotel and casino said he is entertaining offers to purchase the Convention Center Drive property but refutes a published report that the property has been sold.

Chicago-based owner John Marks of Mark IV Realty said "there's no deal" to sell the Greek Isles to Moshe Mor of New York.

"He's a complete fraud," Marks said of Mor's claim that he is buying the 5.7-acre site for $52 million to demolish the property and build luxury condominiums.

A contract between the two parties was filed with the county recorder's office Feb. 8, but Marks said that contract was contigent on Mor making a payment and providing documentation. The payment was not made and documents weren't presented, so the contract was voided, Marks said.

"He showed us a contract, and we acknowledged we'd consider it. But it's not binding. There was no money exchanged," Marks said.

A New York-based attorney for Mor could not be reached for comment.

Marks purchased the property from the World Wrestling Federation for about $11.8 million in 2000. He said he has since been approached by many parties interested in buying the Greek-theme property.

Marks wouldn't specify what he would sell the Greek Isles for but said "anything and everything is available for sale at the right price."

More parties have looked at the property in the last year and a half than any period over the past five or so years, he said.