Saks Fifth Avenue lastly tipped its hand, confirming plans to bid for a on line casino license on the highest flooring of its flagship retailer on Fifth Avenue.
The luxurious division retailer between East forty ninth and East fiftieth streets, subsequent to St. Patrick’s Cathedral, launched unique pictures to The Publish for a on line casino that can carry excessive rollers to the house of excessive style.
The renderings present stylishly dressed visitors, seated at roulette tables, posh bars and upholstered chairs, clinking cocktails. They enter the constructing through a separate entrance on a purple carpet that extends out onto the sidewalk and opens into an enormous foyer space with a number of chandeliers and plush ornamental rugs.
The on line casino would take up three flooring, beginning on the ninth, the place servers shall be wearing black tie and hand out champagne flutes to gamblers, Richard Baker, govt chairman and chief govt of HBC, the Toronto-based firm that owns Saks advised The Publish.
“The on line casino at Saks will appeal to an prosperous world vacationer and never prey on individuals who shouldn’t be in casinos,” Baker stated.
Ever since final yr when the state introduced it will situation three new licenses for Las Vegas-style casinos within the metro area, Baker has been drafting the plan, he stated.
“We have now been quietly working with group teams together with Broadway theaters, retailers and [elected officials] and we’ve got quite a lot of help for a unique kind of on line casino in New York Metropolis,” Baker stated.
A part of his pitch is that Fifth Avenue desperately wants an attraction that can enhance foot visitors on the enduring purchasing avenue, particularly at evening when the shops roll up their doorways.
“All of us who stay in New York Metropolis have seen an erosion of exercise on Fifth Avenue, which is among the most useful points of interest within the US and is vitally necessary for NYC,” Baker stated.
A high-end on line casino will carry lights, safety and exercise to the well-known hall, Baker stated.
The century-old retailer has a lot of competitors for the prized on line casino license. At the very least 5 billionaires are gunning for the license, for which purposes had been lately made accessible, based on individuals aware of the method.
Mets proprietor Steve Cohen, real-estate scion Stefan Soloviev, Gristedes CEO John Catsimatidis and Hudson Yards developer Stephen Ross have expressed curiosity in a license. Music mogul Jay-Z additionally has partnered with actual property developer SL Inexperienced and Caesars to carry a on line casino to Occasions Sq., which has been opposed by the highly effective Broadway League.
A coterie of influential teams, together with the highly effective resort union, helps the plan, based on Baker. He stated Broadway theater homeowners cautious of a on line casino that might compete for vacationer {dollars} additionally backed his plan.
Baker declined to touch upon whether or not it will accomplice with any established on line casino operators.
He estimates that the Saks on line casino may very well be developed inside a yr versus rivals who’re proposing new developments that might take a few years to finish.
The trendy Saks on line casino could be much like the one featured within the James Bond film “On line casino Royale,” based on Baker.
“In Monte Carlo they’ve fancy casinos so why not in Manhattan,” Baker stated. “Why ought to Manhattan have one other slobby on line casino. … We’d like spectacular.”