Casino opens first phase of expansion
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San Manuel Casino launched phase 1 of its expansion project with the opening of two new floors of gaming space, three new bars and three luxury retail shops on Saturday, July 24, and the grand opening of its new 24-hour restaurant Serrano Vista Café on Monday evening, Aug. 2.
The recently unveiled casino expansion represents the first of three phases to expand the casino into a hotel resort (phase 2) complete with pools, spa, dining and a live entertainment venue (phase 3).
These additions are aimed at making the casino, already one of Southern California’s top entertainment destinations, an even more popular attraction. According to San Manuel Casino General Manager Acero, the casino already draws approximately 13 million visitors per year, making it the second most visited destination in California, after Disneyland.
The 17-floor, 432-room hotel resort is nearing completion and is expected to open late this year. The casino plans to build the 3,000-seat live entertainment theater by 2022.
The casino expansion added more than 1,500 new slots (for a total of more than 6,500), 400 new table games, a fifth high limit room, three new shops and three new bars.
“We took a look at what we already had and wanted to create new spaces for our guests,” said Peter Acero. “One thing we didn’t have was lounges.”
The three bars offer guests new places to lounge, and each feature signature cocktails and specialty sodas for non-alcoholic options. The Aces Bar and Deuces Bar are on first and second floor, respectively, and the Overlook Bar is centrally located to place guests in the heart of the casino’s excitement. Once the hotel is complete the Overlook Bar will have an elevated view of the hotel lobby on one side and the casino floor on the other.
Each of the bars has a unique and theatrical cocktail. At the Overlook, guests can order a Haley’s Comet featuring tequila, a fresh strawberry, lime juice and topped with a berry smoke bubble, which bursts into a wispy cloud tableside.
“These drinks are designed to shift your mood and take you from one place to another,” Acero said.
In addition to the lounges, one of the main requests from casino guests has been more retail, especially a men’s shop, according to Acero.
The casino added three luxury shops ⎯ His, Hers and Cache & Carry ⎯ for a total of six.
The men’s shop offers luxury items such as clothing, sunglasses, watches, sportswear and more. It also has shoeshine station, which women are also encouraged to use.
Cache & Carry features high-end luggage and other travel and tech accessories aimed at the jet-setter crowd.
Serrano Vista Café offers a collection of café favorites from sandwiches to steaks. Some entrees are prepared with unique twists, such as the Pho’rench dip, while others, like the excellent grilled cheese and tomato soup, are wonderfully executed traditions.
Acero believes the café’s gourmet milkshakes will become a signature of the restaurant and a guest favorite.
