Edited by: TJVNews.com
Seems like shoppers at New York City’s iconic Saks Fifth Avenue department store might be in for an added surprise in terms of how they can spend their money.
According to a recently published report in the New York Post, Saks Fifth Avenue has confirmed its plans to bid for a casino license on the top floors of its flagship store located between East 49th and East 50th streets, next to St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
In exclusive images that were sent to the New York Post for a planned casino, it appears that the home of high fashion will also become a gathering place for high rollers, the report added.
The Post reports that the renderings that Saks sent them imply that they are expecting an upscale crowd at their proposed casino. The images show guests who are dressed stylishly while sitting at roulette tables as well as patrons seated at posh bars and some drinking cocktails in upholstered chairs, the Post report indicates.
Those high end gamblers are seen entering through a separate entrance to the building, the Post reported. The report also indicated that there is a red carpet that extends out onto the sidewalk and opens into a vast lobby area that comes with plush decorative rugs and multiple chandeliers.
Speaking to the Post, Richard Baker, the executive chairman and chief executive of HBC, the Toronto-based company that owns Saks Fifth Avenue told the paper that the proposed casino would take up three floors, starting on the ninth, where servers will be dressed in black tie and hand out champagne flutes to gamblers.
“The casino at Saks will attract an affluent global tourist and not prey on people who shouldn’t be in casinos,” Baker told the Post.
Baker also told the Post that he had been drafting the casino plan since last year when New York State announced its intention to issue three Las Vegas-style casino licenses in the New York City metropolitan area,
“We have been quietly working with community groups including Broadway theaters, retailers and elected officials and we have a lot of support for a different type of casino in New York City,” Baker said, according to the Post report.
Baker’s pitch for the establishment of the casino is his belief that the historic shopping avenue needs to increase foot traffic at night when businesses are traditionally closed, the paper reported.
“All of us who live in New York City have seen an erosion of activity on Fifth Avenue, which is one of the most valuable attractions in the US and is vitally important for NYC,” Baker told the Post. He added that, “a high-end casino will bring lights, security and activity to the famous corridor.”
According to the Post report, Baker is competing for the gambling license with at least five billionaires. People familiar with the process told the Post that applications for the license were recently made available.
The billionaires who are also interested in obtaining the casino license include Stephen Ross, the Hudson Yards developer, Stefan Soloviev, a real-estate scion, former New York City mayoral candidate, WABC radio talk show host and CEO of the Gristedes chain of Manhattan supermarkets, John Catsimatidis and Steve Cohen, the owner of the New York Mets, the Post reported.
There are other high profile personalities who wish to obtain a casino license for New York City. The Post reported that music mogul Jay-Z also has partnered with real estate developer SL Green and Caesars to bring a casino to Times Square. The report indicated that this has been staunchly opposed by the influential Broadway League.
Baker told the Post that a some important groups such as the powerful New York City hotel union are in support of the casino establishment plan. He also told the paper that those who own Broadway theaters also are behind the plan.
Baker did not tell the Post whether it would partner with any established casino operators.
Baker estimated that the casino he is planning for the top floors of Sake Fifth Avenue could be developed within a year, according to the Post report. He said that the other casino license competitors who are proposing new developments could take many years to complete their projects.
Baker also told the Post that the casino at Saks Fifth Avenue would have similarities to “Casino Royale” that was featured in the James Bond movie with the same name.
He also told the Post that, “In Monte Carlo they have fancy casinos so why not in Manhattan?. Why should Manhattan have another slobby casino. … We need spectacular.”
