read an unconfirmed report that the san remo will become hooters casino and hotel in 05. can anyone confirm this?

You are correct about Hooters and San Remo.

Plus there is a celebrity restaurant planned.

Might be just what that place needs.

I really don't know what Hooters can offer Las vegas, that isn't already there. I mean just look at the places like Rio, Aladdin, The Orleans.
But your right, the place needs a hook, and right now, it just doesn't have one.
I'm sure the Senator will have a standing reservation at the Hooter Hotel. Nothing like falling asleep on a good set of pillows!

Hooters, a Dan Marino restaurant, a martini bar, and complete restoration and plans to compete against the Ghost Bar and Hard Rock!!!!

Good to see that they are setting their standards high (although I know nothing about a Dan Marino restaurant) and it's a great time for that major overhaul.

And if you have been in there lately, you could see it coming.

Here is my recommendations to get them on their feet:

1. Ensure that the Hooter Girls are young and pretty and nice and friendly but don't "overdo" it.

2. Create the Best Martini Bar in Las Vegas! Go beyond the martini lovers dreams and give it style and class and do whatever it takes to make it the best immagineable. Hire a well-qualified Martini Bar designer and go for the GUSTO!

3. Then integrate it with the best restaurant possible (could be Marino's for all I know) so that it is a "special occasion" to have a couple of martinis at the bar and an exciting flow into the restaurant when your reservation is called.
That "transition/flow phase" from the bar to the dining area show be designed to be a memorial occasion.

If you are a restauranteur, you probably know what I mean.

4. Hire an "extra" matre'd (a young kid in training in a nice tuxedo) to locate the diners in the bar and escort them to the head matre'd for further "silent instructions". Make this initial seating first class. And have cold appitizers on the table ready for extra hungry guests.

5. Offer Pelligrino water at the lowest possible price with a little note on the table.

6. if the restaurant is at fault for seating you late, offer the dining party complimentary deserts or a pre dinner martini as a "pardon-moi".

7. Always, always, always offer more that the diners expect!

Got more to add but have to head off to Costo. Gonna look for Pellegrino Water.

Just checked out Dan Marino's Restaurants (five in Florida) and they are reported as "Casual Chic" whatever that means, but the menu appears to be similar to a somewhat fancier TGIF and not a reknown chef place by any means.

Sounds great but if I was opening this place, I'd include another room offering upscaled dining under the control of a reknown chef.

Regardless, I'll be there shortly after it opens to check it out. I like to see how others think about improving casinos and what they end up doing.

Question: Is there a company in Las Vegas whose sole job is to "take over" a casino and make major improvements to increase the bottom line? I mean changes from the parking lot to the garbage dumpster and everything in between

Thanks, Will

will800, I like your ideas, but I'm not sure if Hooters is the place for that particular plan.

I think that your plan may be a little upscale for the Hooters "target audience". I think football, NASCAR, beer, and finger food would bring in the faithful as well as the curious. There is probably a more tasteful way to do it than a regular Hooters. Maybe like a big upscale sports bar. Or have themed rooms for different sports.

As for your question on the casino takeover job, perhaps you could start a "consulting service". You certainly have plenty of Las Vegas casino experience, you've seen what works and what doesn't. And you could always tap our brains for ideas.

I think JMT is right Will. For a Hooters Casino, you need to lower your expectations a bit. Remember thier motto "delightfully tacky"!

Will I visit, heck yes. But will I return, that depends on what I find. I don't need another slot card to carry around, so it's got to be something special in some way.

Now for my knock on our local Hooters. It seems that they like to hire young ladies, very young ladies, girl in fact. Personally, I don't enjoy it. I'd rather be served by soomeone a bit older. Now I'm not saying get rid of all the young ones, but for pete sakes, how about something without a one as the first number in thier age. M2C

OK, you win! I guess a classy dining room in a Hooter's casino would be a bit too much, but I hope that Dan "builds" the bestest martini place in Las Vegas.

I still like that Russian Bar (Red Square?)in the Mandalay Bay for the bestest martini in town, but I'd love to see Dan give them a bit of competition at a more than resonable(er) price.

My only problem is that I associate a pre-dinner martini or two with fine dining, so I guess I'll have to "drink and run" unless Dan's place exceeds my expectations.

Hooters does make some mighty fine chicken wings!
Exactly what flavor martini goes with hot wings??? LOL