1The tribe is betting that the non-alcoholic facility will kick-start economic development for the reservation west of Port Angeles.
“Everyone is looking forward to it,” said Frances Charles, tribal chairwoman. “We are really proud.”
A ribbon cutting and blessing at 9 a.m. will signal the opening of the casino, located at 631 Stratton Road, which will have rows of slot machines, but no table games.
“Then it will be full-blown open,” said Dan Malvini, casino general manager.
As the players first walk inside, they will see the casino lighted by its 100 bingo-style electronic slots, and also take notice of what Malvini describes as a clean, friendly environment.
“I hope they remember us by that,” he said.
Carmichael’s deli
On the far side of the $4 million, 7,000-square-foot building is a deli ran by former manager of The Landing’s Restaurant in Port Angeles, Debbie Carmichael.
The deli will serve a variety of foods such as smoked salmon and meats, fish and chips and pulled pork sandwiches.
Carmichael’s cinnamon rolls also are on the menu.
“I’m known for them in Port Angeles,” Carmichael said.
“She is also known for her fish and chips,” Malvini added.
“We’ll have some of the good stuff down here.”
The casino won’t serve any alcohol, as the sale of alcohol is banned on the reservation, but befitting the Pacific Northwest, a barista will provide patrons with a variety of coffee drinks.
Employ about 50
The casino will employ between 48 and 53 people, Malvini said, with about 80 percent from the Lower Elwha Klallam and other local tribes.
As a Class 3 casino, the casino is not required to set aside profits for community charities, but all of its profits are earmarked for such tribal needs as housing, health care and social services, Charles said.
Malvini said that buses will transport people to the casino from the tribal center, if the casino parking lot is full.
The grand opening will be preceded by a preview — or “soft” — opening from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on March 27.
Soft opening
The soft opening is for tribal members from all of the 29 tribes in the state, Charles said. Local public officials also will be invited.
Joni Eades, casino marketing manager, said the casino will also be inviting tribal members on Vancouver Island to the soft opening.
Particularly welcome will be representatives of the Jamestown S’Klallam tribe, which has been supportive of the Lower Elwa Klallam tribe opening its own casino, and has provided its own expertise.
The Jamestown S’Klallam owns the 7 Cedars Casino, a Class 2 casino, in Blyn.
“We really thank the Jamestown,” Charles said.
Everyone at the soft opening will receive a leather journal with the casino emblem on the cover, she said.
Malvini is certain that the casino will be successful, despite the slow economy, particularly, he said, because the casino is more generous with player rewards than most casinos.
“With our point system, it is easier to get rewards,” he said.
“Everyone wants to win the jackpot, but we have to give something back.”
If the casino is not successful, or it moves to a larger facility, the building is designed to house offices and other tribal needs.
Planning for next location
Malvini said the casino will outgrow its current facility.
“We will be successful, we will be very successful,” Malivni said.
“I’m a firm believer in this.
“We will turn it into another use, because we will be moving into a bigger casino.”
That larger facility would be located on 16 acres of land the tribe owns on U.S. Highway 101 at Dry Creek Road.
The tribe originally planned to open the casino at that location.
It changed those plans when its “placeholder” application was denied by the U.S. Interior Department in January 2008 because it did not include environmental assessments of the site, which is the former location of Adventures Through Kayaking.
The tribe filed the application to preserve its options against an April 2006 deadline set by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who as Senate Indian Affairs Committee chairman, threatened to ban off-reservation casinos.
The ban never materialized, and Charles said the tribe still would like to use the land for a larger casino.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.
