Sunday, Aug. 23, 2009 | 2:06 a.m.
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Las Vegas’ recorded history is full of stories about people who came here with modest backgrounds and went on to achieve fabulous success. Frank Fertitta Jr., who died Friday after heart surgery at Cedars-Sinai hospital in Los Angeles, gave rise to one of those stories.
He arrived here in 1960 with his wife, Victoria, who survives him. He got a job as a bellman at the Tropicana and worked for the next 16 years at various properties and in various positions, including blackjack dealer, pit boss and baccarat manager.
In 1976 he opened his own place, off the Strip. He named it The Casino and envisioned it catering to casino workers and other local residents. His vision turned into a niche market, a very successful one.
He changed the name of his place to the Bingo Palace, and then, in 1983, to Palace Station, which earned a well-deserved reputation as a “locals” casino and was the first property of what would become Station Casinos.
Station’s growth — today it has 19 properties — enabled the Fertittas to prosper and inspired them to share their wealth with the community. Frank and Vicki Fertitta’s philanthropy was extended to UNLV, Bishop Gorman High School, Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada, Opportunity Village, St. Jude’s Ranch for Children, Nevada Cancer Institute and many other worthy organizations and causes.
Frank Fertitta’s success helped fuel Las Vegas’ success. His death, at age 70, leaves the community remembering one of its great entrepreneurs.
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