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Playing at a Station's property today, employees were buzzing about the news that Station Casino buffets would not be re-opening. Before covid Station's operated 10 buffets, between their 7 Station properties, Palms and 2 Fiesta. That was 10 of the 40 buffets in Vegas pre covid. Only 6 of those properties have re-opened with Palms having just been sold and Texas station and the 2 fiesta remaining closed and now the rumor than none of the buffets will be re-opening.
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Originally Posted by kewlJ
That's a shame. And they had just opened that new Palace buffet downstairs, which got rave reviews and a top 10 value listing at LVA.
I'm just sorry I didn't eat there on my last trip and never will get to check it out. I opted for the coffee shop instead.
I just finished eating at a Station restaurant and asked the waitress who said she hadn't heard anything. Will try to look for some sort of announcement when I get home. maybe it hasn't been made yet.
During my 12 years in Vegas, free or greatly reduced meals (with points) have always been a hidden benefit of my play that was never calculated into my earnings. My partner and I ate out almost every day, many of them at Station or Boyd buffets. And when my brother moved to Vegas about 5 years ago, he joined the free meal gravy train. I didn't realize just what a benefit that was until casinos shut down last year and I had to start buying groceries on a regular basis. I mean we were always buying snacks and stuff, but all of the sudden had to start buying groceries for real meals at home. Grocery bills skyrocketed, making me appreciate the financial benefit of all those free meals everyday.
Let's hope Boyd doesn't follow suit. I like some coffee shops and Grand Cafe type places too, and will still eat out at casinos expense, but I will miss the Station buffets if this is confirmed.
add on: I ate at Palace Station several times after the remodel. It was nice. VERY nice at first, but has already started to slip back a little when covid hit.
Thank you for the on topic thread:) You know what they say about broken clocks and all that.
I remember back in bygone days when I was deducting meal prices and all that as a formal expense of spending 90 days a year in LV. When I first started, in the 80's, the per diem allowed for LV deductions was quite low. LV was considered a "cheap" city. By the time I stopped doing that, LV's allowed per diem had gone way up. I think it almost had doubled, putting it at the other end of the range.
If Boyd keeps buffets shuttered along with Stations, I will mourn the free food. Many Boyd daily promos centered on the buffets. And that reminds me, I still have a couple hundred in both Stations and Boyd comps that I better blow on meals next trip. It won't go nearly as far if the buffets aren't available.
So when my partner was alive and we were doing a lot of machine play supplemental stuff that he handled, we always had 2 or 3 accounts that were presidential or chairman. Mostly presidential, I think 1 chairman account for 1 or 2 years. Wasn't a whole lot of benefit to that except presidential received 50% discount at the buffet at all times and the shorter line (that might have been the real benefit :D). And if it was senior day for my partner, or we had a 50% off coupon, they doubled up the discount, meaning we were paying 25% or like $2. :DQuote:
Originally Posted by redietz
So after my partner passed, and stations started tightening up a bit, my play at stations really dropped. I would play enough on multiplier days just to have money for the discounted meals (had to pay with points) and get whatever free play rolled in. So my last presidential account expired end of 2019. I was downgraded to the grey or silver card, whatever that is. So early last year, I was trying to decide if I wanted to score a big coin in and get back to presidential. Really the only real benefit I could see was the discounted buffets and shorter lines at the buffet. I decided to go for it and picked a multiplier day in February and played enough to hit presidential and it earned me enough points to eat for the rest of the year, or so I thought.
casinos shut down a month later and I have been screwed out of that buffet 50% off and shorter line benefit. And the presidential was extended because of covid until June 2021 (next month). I though maybe if buffets opened, I would squeeze 50%'s in during June.....but not to be. In hind sight, I got Zero out of that presidential for the last year. :rolleyes: Should have just let it go, which I will now.
So I have searched high and low and see nothing resembling any kind of official announcement about Stations closing buffets. :confused: About the only related comment I have found is Stations CEO saying Buffets are a losing proposition for his casinos and have been for sometime and would not be opening when casinos re-opened. That was on an earnings call one year ago, in May 2020.
Also, while I don't check every visit, when ever I happen to walk by or near the buffet area at all of the 6 open Stations properties, the buffets are sitting there completely intact, looking like they are just waiting for the green light to open. You would think after a year, they would have dismantled the fixtures and be preparing to use that space for something else.
For anyone interested this info or rumor came about when a dealer at Red Rock mentioned it yesterday. I hadn't asked him, he just volunteered this out of the blue. He said, that he had just been told buffets wouldn't be re-opening. So a little while later, I asked a second dealer if he knew anything about the buffets re-opening and he confirmed that they had just been told they were not. Several hours later, I asked the waitress in the cafe and she knew nothing of this. Seems strange that dealers were told this while waitresses and people in that department were not. :confused:
I guess we will find out shortly as I would expect more buffets to reopen if they are going to. Maybe I am just being hopeful, because I like a few of the station buffets (GVR, Red Rock, sunset) so much.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/video/peop...?ocid=msedgdhp
Looks like it's official.
RIP......Station buffets
Bummer! :(Quote:
Originally Posted by MaxPen
I think it is a mistake. Local casinos have things like movie theaters and bowling alley's to draw locals to the casino, that might not otherwise be going. The buffet falls into that catagory.
I know I have planned a trip to a casino, based on a free buffet for that particular day in my mailer. I mean it is a casino in my regular rotation, so I play blackjack or if a multiplier day, maybe some VP, but it was the free buffet (especially when my partner was alive) that got us there on that particular day. Now yeah, I am an AP, so the casinos don't case about me, but take the AP out of it, there are plenty of locals that do the same thing, plan their visit around a free or discounted buffet and then play while they are there.
So the new generation pencil pushers, look at the numbers and say, the buffet is losing money. What they should be looking at is that free or discounted buffet, that the casino says they are losing money on, (cost $10) brings in that player who loses 2-3 hundred that day that otherwise wouldn't have come. Sort of like free play. The pencil pusher can look at the free play given away and say that costs money. But if that $10, $15 whatever amount of free play, gets that player to that casino that the player would otherwise not visited, that is $10 well spent. It's called marketing.
More like Vegas 101. Markers came first, comped buffets were next to get or keep the gambler there. My question for Stations and ElDiablo is - what are they going to do with all that empty space? Buffets have large footprints in casinos. Most of these casino have food courts already.Quote:
Originally Posted by kewlJBummer! :(Quote:
Originally Posted by MaxPen
I think it is a mistake. Local casinos have things like movie theaters and bowling alley's to draw locals to the casino, that might not otherwise be going. The buffet falls into that catagory.
I know I have planned a trip to a casino, based on a free buffet for that particular day in my mailer. I mean it is a casino in my regular rotation, so I play blackjack or if a multiplier day, maybe some VP, but it was the free buffet (especially when my partner was alive) that got us there on that particular day. Now yeah, I am an AP, so the casinos don't case about me, but take the AP out of it, there are plenty of locals that do the same thing, plan their visit around a free or discounted buffet and then play while they are there.
So the new generation pencil pushers, look at the numbers and say, the buffet is losing money. What they should be looking at is that free or discounted buffet, that the casino says they are losing money on, (cost $10) brings in that player who loses 2-3 hundred that day that otherwise wouldn't have come. Sort of like free play. The pencil pusher can look at the free play given away and say that costs money. But if that $10, $15 whatever amount of free play, gets that player to that casino that the player would otherwise not visited, that is $10 well spent. It's called marketing.
Not all casinos have buffets.
Ilani tribal casino, a fairly new casino near Portland, does not have one.
They're building out in stages; first the casino, than a parking structure, then a hotel.
No buffet is on the drawing board.
Man, a casino without a buffet seems like having a girl friend who won't put out: does not compute.
Mr jpfromla asked the big question: what happens to all that space?
I dont believe the words "never again" apply to casinos. I think in two years buffets will be back.
The Station Casinos group has a history of making blunders and misjudging the market. Look at the Palms disaster.
Slot machines cost a casino something like $300 a day. So I doubt they will fill the buffet areas with machines. Tables are more expensive to run.
Could they rent out the space to retailers? That's risky but possible.
But I think the spaces will stay vacant and in two years the buffets will be back.
I was thinking something along these lines, if not all properties, at least a few like Red Rock, GVR, Sante Fe.Quote:
Originally Posted by AndrewG
I also was wondering if Boyd will follow suit. If I were boyd, I would not, instead hoping to pick up some of those patrons that like and enjoy local buffets. Might be an opportunity to bump up price a couple bucks though.
Lost in the buffet announcement was that during the same earnings call, the CEO, or was it CFO, also said Stations had cut promo and promo offers to the bone and would continue those cuts, something many of us had recognized for quite a while.
There was a time just a couple years ago, when I would get mailers from the station properties (Red Rock, Palace, GVR, Boulder, ect) and a second mailer from the 2 Fiesta properties, a third mailer from The little Wildfire joints, Wild west casino and Barleys on sunset road, and a 4th mailer with just table game offers, weekly and twice weekly free table bets and match plays. For a period there was even a seperate mailer for just Palms. The Station properties were free money in our pockets. Sadly, those days are gone.
I agree with both of you. Buffets are a big footprint and what will replace and generate income... another upscale restaurant. Food court-unless they already have one (and most do). Four wall it and turn them into timeshare broiler rooms?Quote:
Originally Posted by AndrewG
I agree that they will be back. Notice the old school owners haven’t permanently shut theirs down. Gaughan kept South Point open and there have been no negative rumors from Boyd (except for MMS). As soon as the bean counters realize that the $10 buffet is costing them $300 in slot action there might be a change. There is a reason why buffets are in the bowels of the casino.
Silverton to follow suit?
Yesterday I received an email with a brief survey from Sliverton casino. Survey had 4 questions.
1.) what is your favorite football team?
2.) what is your favorite hockey team?
3.) how often do you eat at the Silverton buffet?
4.) would you be less likely to visit a casino that didn't offer a buffet option?
I have to assume they are at least considering not re-opening their buffet. I hope not. Nice little buffet.
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Originally Posted by kewlJ
Hey guys, is the Boyd combo buffet/coffee shop at the Fremont open? I was wondering if they just switched it completely over to the coffee shop option with the pandemic. That room is so old school, it would absolutely break my heart if it closed.
Don't know. If you don'rt get an answer, I will look next time I am downtown, but probably won't be until next week, now.Quote:
Originally Posted by redietz
Flamingo and Treasure Island buffets also will not be opening.
The fact that buffets are allowed to be open and only 3 are open, 2 high priced on the strip (Cosmo and Caesars) and South Point which has been open since July with servers serving food, sure seems like the days of low & medium priced buffets, a staple in Vegas for 80 years is over.
MGM and.....wait for it.....Circus Circus are opening on the 26th and 29th.
My girlfriend and I had just discussed the worst buffets in Las Vegas last night, so when I had her guess which ones were reopening, she did not guess Circus-Circus. I had Circus-Circus as the second worst in my 40-years experience to the old Boardwalk in the 80's. She cut Circus-Circus a little more slack. She thought they were the third or fourth worst.Quote:
Originally Posted by jpfromla
Never had any Stations buffets. I did like a few Boyd breakfast buffets though.
I only ate at Circus Circus buffet a few times. Nothing horrible stands out, but nothing good either. The most memorable thing was that customers could refill their own drinks instead of waiting for slow drink table service. And if that is the most memorable thing, well maybe that is saying something. ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by redietzMy girlfriend and I had just discussed the worst buffets in Las Vegas last night, so when I had her guess which ones were reopening, she did not guess Circus-Circus. I had Circus-Circus as the second worst in my 40-years experience to the old Boardwalk in the 80's. She cut Circus-Circus a little more slack. She thought they were the third or fourth worst.Quote:
Originally Posted by jpfromla
So in keeping with you theme of worst buffets, obviously I only go back to when I moved here in 2009. (Don't think I ate at buffets during 4-5 visits prior to moving to Vegas). So early on during my time, my worse list was Terribles (now Silver7), Palace Station and RailRoad Pass if we are counting that as Vegas. If you were getting a free or comped buffet at these places, you were paying too much. ;)
Palace Station was redone 2 years ago, and not just lipstick, but a whole new buffet in new location which was pretty nice. Silver7 (formally terribles) did away with their buffet a couple years ago, except Friday and Saturday nights, which they upgraded, Friday was Steak night and Saturday Seafood. Upped the price along with it, but it removed them from the worst list.
So to replace them, I will go with Cannery up north on Craig Road and the 2 Arizona Charlies although Arizona Charlies Decatuer also has a steak night, that might just get them off the worst list for that night. But the basic buffet = worst list.
I should mention that my buffet rankings are heavily influenced by the desert selections. Give me some good ice cream or gelato (not soft serve tasty freeze stuff) and a good piece of Boston Cream Pie, which only a select few have, and a very mediocre buffet is moving up my list. That was the case with Eastside Cannery when they had a little buffet. Best Boston Cream pie I have ever eaten!
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Originally Posted by kewlJI only ate at Circus Circus buffet a few times. Nothing horrible stands out, but nothing good either. The most memorable thing was that customers could refill their own drinks instead of waiting for slow drink table service. And if that is the most memorable thing, well maybe that is saying something. ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by redietzMy girlfriend and I had just discussed the worst buffets in Las Vegas last night, so when I had her guess which ones were reopening, she did not guess Circus-Circus. I had Circus-Circus as the second worst in my 40-years experience to the old Boardwalk in the 80's. She cut Circus-Circus a little more slack. She thought they were the third or fourth worst.Quote:
Originally Posted by jpfromla
So in keeping with you theme of worst buffets, obviously I only go back to when I moved here in 2009. (Don't think I ate at buffets during 4-5 visits prior to moving to Vegas). So early on during my time, my worse list was Terribles (now Silver7), Palace Station and RailRoad Pass if we are counting that as Vegas. If you were getting a free or comped buffet at these places, you were paying too much. ;)
Palace Station was redone 2 years ago, and not just lipstick, but a whole new buffet in new location which was pretty nice. Silver7 (formally terribles) did away with their buffet a couple years ago, except Friday and Saturday nights, which they upgraded, Friday was Steak night and Saturday Seafood. Upped the price along with it, but it removed them from the worst list.
So to replace them, I will go with Cannery up north on Craig Road and the 2 Arizona Charlies although Arizona Charlies Decatuer also has a steak night, that might just get them off the worst list for that night. But the basic buffet = worst list.
Back around 2000, Palace Station's upstairs buffet wasn't terrible. It was okay. But then it started degrading bit by bit. When it got to the point that they sometimes offered half a donut on a plate as a dessert, and it had dried out real fast because it was cut in half, that wasn't a selling point.
Terrible's was very basic, very plain as I recall. Yeah, I probably put it a notch below the old Palace buffet. I don't have any experience with the Canneries or Arizona Charlie's.
I think my aversion to Circus-Circus is partly because it's a "screaming kids" buffet with people toting their kids up to the buffet and letting them spoon their own stuff. So the place winds up a mess real fast, and then you have screaming kids all over the place. I kind of use buffets as a place to retreat from the cacophony of Las Vegas, and Circus-Circus didn't help with that. My girlfriend hated the old Imperial Palace buffet, but I kind of liked it because you could get off the strip to a quiet, dark place isolated from the hustle and bustle. Coffee was good, desserts were good, and that was enough for me.
Although not TECHNICALLY the same thing, my Local Buffet, Jumbo Buffet closed for good in 2020, and it had been a staple for many years. Buffets closing is to be expected as MANY People just won't feel comfortable eating at Buffets in the ongoing Covid-19 Pandemic. MAYBE when it's been considered eradicated (It could be DECADES before eradication as Polio Vaccine was available in 1963 but... It was around 2000 when it became considered eradicated, a whopping 37 years later. Regarding Covid-19, it could be 2057/2058 before it's been considered eradicated, using Polio as a guide.... I doubt it will take 37 years for eradication for Covid-19, considering we are much more technologically advanced in 2021 than 1963....
Sounds pretty gay.... lol no offense, stupid joke.Quote:
Originally Posted by kewlJ
Agree when S7 was Terrible’s that is the worst buffet I’ve ever had, my first time to LV I had a coupon after which the buffet was something like $2 and I still felt ripped off.
I thought Gold Coast and Sams Town lunch/dinner were rather poor but always free from promos iirc so whatever, both fine for breakfast.
Eastside Cannery was up there but just because I worked there for maybe six months, if I recall I thought their buffet was ok before working there but the employee dining room food was always a small selection of the buffet along with soup/salad. You can imagine eating the stuff 6x-8x a week gets a little old and something you would never ever pay for in the future.
Most stations lunch/dinner buffets were considerably better than any Boyd with possible exception of Main Street imo. It’s tough to mess up breakfast, terrible’s still managed to do it though.Quote:
Originally Posted by jbjb
This is a complete and utter lie.Quote:
Originally Posted by mcap
They had a fresh made to order Waffle Station.
They had an Omelette Station where you could get fresh made omelettes or eggs of your choice, made to order.
Bacon, Potatoes, Sausage (so what if it was the old school sausage links from jimmy dean or the like that kids used to eat in the 50's to the 80's).
Toast Station that you could make your own toast, English Muffin, Bagel or Raisin Bread.
Philadelphia Cream Cheese in easy to steal individual plastic containers.
Muffins and Pastries
Fresh Fruit.
Coffee, Juice, Tea or other bottomless refreshments.
Buffet was always Free and the sharpies brought a backpack filled with Tupperware for "to go orders", albeit not the best buffet food for this Advantage Play.
Perhaps things changed when they rebranded to Silver Sevens but don't you blasphemy Terrible Herbst with their 5x Royal Promotion and secret upstairs Buffet!
It’s possible I didn’t eat the breakfast don’t remember which time period I ate and there is zero chance I gave it a second shot. Whatever edition of the buffet it was though, it was the worst buffet I’ve had in LV without question. I don’t get down with waffles or pancakes for breakfast anyway, shit is too heavy for early in the day.
They 100% used canned fruit, that and all iceberg lettuce are kind of the two immediate things I will notice that really tend to make a lasting negative impression on me. South Point uses canned fruit, the one place with canned fruit I think is decent. Damnit this post sounds gay...
Nobody steals that title away from Circus Circus as they held it since the Boardwalk Casino Buffet closed their doors in Las Vegas back in 2006.Quote:
Originally Posted by mcap
Although, the Boardwalk Casino Buffet was open 24 hours, so that in itself, trumps the miserable buffet food.
You may have a case against the El Cortel and their Fake Chinese Buffet but that wasn't common knowledge.
And don't get me started on the Free Food at the Western with their Blue Plate Specials.
That shit was Free, To Go, and the Best.
How far back are you going monet? In my time dealing with Terribles, they were one of only a few buffets that didn't even offer real butter (only margerine), so it seems hard for me to believe they offered Philly cream cheeze containers.Quote:
Originally Posted by monetThis is a complete and utter lie.Quote:
Originally Posted by mcap
They had a fresh made to order Waffle Station.
They had an Omelette Station where you could get fresh made omelettes or eggs of your choice, made to order.
Bacon, Potatoes, Sausage (so what if it was the old school sausage links from jimmy dean or the like that kids used to eat in the 50's to the 80's).
Toast Station that you could make your own toast, English Muffin, Bagel or Raisin Bread.
Philadelphia Cream Cheese in easy to steal individual plastic containers.
Muffins and Pastries
Fresh Fruit.
Coffee, Juice, Tea or other bottomless refreshments.
Buffet was always Free and the sharpies brought a backpack filled with Tupperware for "to go orders", albeit not the best buffet food for this Advantage Play.
Perhaps things changed when Silver Sevens took over but don't you blasphemy Terrible Herbst with their 5x Royal Promotion and secret upstairs Buffet!
Once Again Bullshit... they had an endless made to order Steak Night.Quote:
Originally Posted by mcap
Rookie!Quote:
Originally Posted by kewlJ
Fuck this bullshit... you all got me hotsucker.
I'm gonna go bet hockey now.
Leave me alone aligators!
Never had either one. Read plenty of opinions of Circus that would agree though.Quote:
Originally Posted by monetNobody steals that title away from Circus Circus as they held it since the Boardwalk Casino Buffet closed their doors in Las Vegas back in 2006.Quote:
Originally Posted by mcap
Although, the Boardwalk Casino Buffet was open 24 hours, so that in itself, trumps the miserable buffet food.
Perhaps I didn’t eat the fucking steak night either. Whatever one I had was complete shit. My impression was after 7’s took over the gaming took a nosedive and the dining made a slight improvement. Quit being jelly just because I’ve been chatting online with babes all day.Quote:
Originally Posted by monetOnce Again Bullshit... they had an endless made to order Steak Night.Quote:
Originally Posted by mcap
Refreshing my memory, I have to amend this. The steak night at Az Charlie Decatuer, is NOT included in the regular buffet price, there is an extra charge if you want a steak. Therefore I don't think that counts or gets them off the "worst" list for that night.Quote:
Originally Posted by kewlJ