The new address for the Isle of Capri in Cape Girardeau. Read about it here.
Friday, January 7, 2011 ~ Updated 3:23 PM
Isle of Capri Corp., CEO James B. Perry shared his vision for Cape Girardeau's future as local business leaders celebrated a year of economic development efforts Friday during Cape Area Magnet's annual luncheon.
When Isle examined potential casino sites, the company wanted to make the whole area where it was located a regional destination, Perry said.
"What made this project successful is our shared vision. That makes Cape Girardeau a place where we want to do business," Perry said.
Perry oversees Isle's 15 casino properties in six states. He previously worked as an executive with Trump Entertainment Resorts, Inc. and Argosy Gaming Company.
"Customers come to a riverboat for about 3 hours, our goal is to make their visit to downtown Cape a six hour visit," he said.
Isle's $125 million casino development plan, currently under review by city officials, includes a second phase to construct a hotel in the future.
"The key to building a hotel is transforming a three hour experience into a six hour experience because once we do, it becomes a place to come for a couple of days," Perry said. "We will start to build an entertainment district down there that will be the envy from St. Louis to Memphis and from Branson to wherever it is in the east… I guess it's Louisville."
Along with bringing the largest capital investment by a private company in the city's history, Isle of Capri's new casino is expected to create 450 jobs.
Missouri Gaming Commission releases casino revenue reports Monday morning. www.mgc.dps.mo.gov
Wednesday, December 29, 2010 ~ Updated 1:07 PM
By Melissa Miller ~ Southeast Missourian
Isle of Capri is making a major change in its design layout, according to its final development plan filed at city hall.
The location of the casino building and parking area are now reversed from earlier designs, putting the building closer to the Mississippi River. The casino entrance, planned for the intersection of the new North Main Street and Spanish Street, will remain the same. The design change does not change plans for the relocation of the roadway either.
"It makes for better flow on the property," said Cape Girardeau city planner Martha Brown. Access to utilities was a factor in the decision to change the site design, she said.
The city planning and zoning commission will review Isle's final development plan Wednesday, Jan. 12. The commission has already recommended the city council rezone the 23-acre casino site at 800 N. Spanish St., from residential and light manufacturing to a planned development district.
Isle's final development plan contains more detailed drawings indicating where utilities will be located, how the property will be landscaped and where signs will be placed.
Proposed signs include two monument-style signs at the entrance with video message boards and an 11-by-20-foot video display board mounted to the building. Only prerecorded videos will be played on this sign, no live or streaming videos will be allowed, according to the plan.
Two phases included in the final design plan. The second phase, split into three parts, calls for the addition of a hotel, more parking and a small residential development.
This is from the St.Louis Business Journal-
WPSD Local 6 provides the story.
A casino locating in Cape Girardeau has been discussed and debated for nearly two decades, and the most recent process of determining which community and casino applicant would receive the state's final license was nothing short of thorough.
Cape Girardeau citizens had the opportunity to vote on whether they support the operation of a casino in the city. After a spirited but respectful debate, which took place on these pages and throughout the community, voters resoundingly said yes: 61 to 39 percent. The result removed a question before the State Gaming Commission of whether Cape Girardeau welcomed the effort.
Read more here.
Scott Moyers of the Southeast Missourian writes about what is next for Isle of Capri. Read it here.
