Slots-A-Fun

There's a false wall behind the promotions booth at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. It doesn't look like much, just a wall covered in an artist's rendering of what the new casino - also known as Project Sunrise - will look like.

People glance at the pictures while waiting for their player's club cards, but the clanging of the slot machines already in place draws the crowd - not a wall. But if they knew what was through the authorized access only door, there would sure be a few faces pressed against the cracks.

Two off escalators, sandwiching a flight of stairs, greet whoever walks through the door. All are covered in plastic, waiting to be unveiled at the pre-grand opening on Tuesday, July 15, an invite-only party benefiting United Way of Wyoming Valley. The casino opens to the public after a 9:30 a.m. ceremony on Thursday, July 17.

Glass doors are being squeegeed and a long hallway is still being painted. The 300,000-square foot complex greets workers (and soon, patrons) at the end of the climate-controlled walkway. Some of the machines are open for checkups from slot techs, nearly all are labeled with sheets of paper, and each one is glowing, helping those lucky enough to get an inside look to forget that this is Plains Township, not Vegas.

"We've been so focused for so many months as an entire team," said vice president of marketing Jim Wise. "On one hand, I think we're exhausted, but we're so excited to present this to the public. We kept this as a secret. No one with a camera or a video crew could come in."

The no photos policy is for increasing the wow factor. If patrons saw the casino pre-opening, they might be slightly less impressed. But just slightly.

Walking in from the interim casino brings you straight to Bar Louie, the start of the perimeter of restaurants and shops. Rustic Kitchen, a restaurant created by Jim Cafarelli, is next. There's a low key bar area at the entrance, then beautiful older doors invite you to a more upscale dining area, with a television studio that will be used to film local chef Kate Gabriel or host five-course dinner parties.

Next, for the meat lovers, is Ruth's Chris Steak House. While many of the restaurants are now sporting a shellac and support beam theme, they will be finished by the opening, Wise said. The food court's Hot Dog Hall of Fame, which will boast 300 condiments, is his only worry.

There are nine restaurants total, all outside vendors except Timbers Buffet, the casino-run 300-seat buffet. The prices are reasonable, especially to people who are used to shelling out at least 22 bucks for Atlantic City buffets. At Timbers, it's $10.99 for lunch, $14.99 for dinner.

Timbers is named for tree trunks webbed into the decor. The trees are fresh and local, so fresh that one has sprouted a leafed-branch. The stone inside the establishment is local too, used from queries in the 570. The state fish - the Brook Trout - is in the intricate design on the aerial light fixtures. There is a coal to diamonds statue in the lobby, crafted by the Baut Studios from Swoyersville.

While admiring all the eateries, it's easy to forget that a casino is on the other side of a comfortably-wide promenade, surrounded by a mountain laurel stenciled banister that encircles the 21-and-over casino area (the shops and restaurants are all-ages public space). There are about 2,200 slot machines, ranging from fan favorite 50 Lions by gaming company Aristocrat to new-for-Pocono Downs Poppit by Pogo.

In the center of the gaming action is the elevated Sunburst Bar, giving patrons a good sightline into the casino to find their friends - or see which machine is hitting. Above the bar is the colorful sunburst it's named after.

That's not the only place for customers to dabble in some alcohol. Pearl Sushi Bar serves over a dozen martinis in addition to fresh sushi and Breakers is Coyote Ugly for the hipsters. In addition to the bartenders who will be dancing on the bar, there is a stage in the center of the outward facing establishment.

"You can fit four very skinny guys or a trio," Wise said.

Sounds like the emo bands should be making a few phone calls this week.

If you hit a jackpot and don't feel like using it to pay bills, check out the high-end retail shops, like Brookstone; men's fine apparel boutique Misura; its sister store Marshall Rousso; and the Crossing Vineyards Wine and Cheese Shop, which is teaming up with iGourmet.com, which, somewhat unbeknownst to many, is based in West Pittston.

"This is the first casino in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania to utilize outside vendors," Wise said. "For many of our restaurants and retail shops, we have attracted great outside vendors to come in."

But what of the interim casino and its nine-foot ceilings? It's reforming. Downstairs will be completely void of slots, split into office space and additional function space for parties, events, and slot tournaments.

Gaming will still be upstairs; the electronic table games as the centerpiece of the already existing casino. It will be surrounded by video poker machines that compliment the virtual blackjack, three-card poker, and roulette games. The food court will be closed the day the newer casino opens, and it will be redesigned as a ballroom space for dinner parties and community functions. That should be finished before the end of this year.

That entire casino will be smoke-free (right now, smoking is allowed downstairs, not up). The larger casino will be 75-percent to 25-percent, non-smoking to cigarette friendly, respectively. There will be signs designating the smoking areas, just as there is a sign to let patrons know about the high rollers section, with over 100 slots ranging from $5 to $100.

Don't worry about emptying your wallet. The other denominations start at a penny, so the frugal can enjoy as well.

"Mohegan Sun, as a corporate entity, is great at master planning and has master planned for potential future options," Wise diplomatically said when asked if a hotel is the casino's next project. "While I don't have anything definitive to tell you now, there are a variety of additional amenities and we understand where they would go. As to making that decision ... only time will tell."

What's inside Project Sunburst, besides the new slot machines?
- Restaurants: Ruth's Chris Steak House; Rustic Kitchen Bistro Bar Louie; Timbers Buffet; Pearl Sushi Bar; and The Sky Court featuring Johnny Rockets, Ben & Jerry's, Puck Express by Wolfgang Puck, Hot Dog Hall of Fame, and Betty & Joe's Coffee House.
- Bars: Breakers and Sunburst Bar.
- Retail: Brookstone; Marshall Rousso; Misura; Crossing Vineyards Wine and Cheese Shop; Reflections; and MOGO (short for the Mohegan Sun Logo shop).
- Extras: 105 the River will be broadcasting live.

And when can I play?
The invite-only pre-opening party is on Wednesday, July 15. The official grand opening is Thursday, July 17, following a 9:30 a.m. ceremony.

Anything else?
There are 800 valet parking spots and 3,200 self parking spots. The restaurants and retail shops are all ages, while the casino floor is 21-and-over. Player's Club card points can be used in all shops. The horseracing and race book will not change. Pacers Clubhouse will remain as is.

-lsokolowski@timesshamrock.com