It's Our City is a project that uses TV, Radio and Web
to promote civic engagement in the Philadelphia region.Breaking News: Foxwoods Casino will relocate to Gallery at Market East
Tuesday, September 9th, 2008 at 11:44 pm - by Matt Campbell. Filed under: Casinos.
The Philadephia Inquirer is reporting tonight that an agreement has been reached for Foxwoods Casino to build a slots mega casino above the Gallery Mall. The move is officially expected to be announced Friday afternoon at 1pm at City Hall. Foxwoods had planned to build in South Philadelphia close to the Delaware River waterfront. But local neighborhood opposition along with growing frustration among politicians led casino officials to reconsider its original location.
This news is actually quite a surprise. Both Foxwoods Casino and Sugarhouse Casino currently have the legal standing to build at their planned locations. Sugarhouse says it has no intention of moving from its riverside location north of Penn’s Landing. Stay tune for more.
Also we want to know what you think. Would a casino attached to be a Mall be a dream or a nightmare?
September 10th, 2008 at 12:05 am
To be honest there will be two sides to this, there always is. I think this is going to be iffy because a lot of under 21 people always hang around the gallery (like any mall). Will they try to sneak is something to be considered. This will also lead to more traffic, thank god I’m a walker.
I can see a lot of people taking their hour lunches at the casino’s as well haha.
September 10th, 2008 at 12:09 am
From Foxwoods point of view, The Gallery Mall location gets them attatched to the convention center. I wonder how a casino above the mall will transform the shops and restaurants in the mall itself.
September 10th, 2008 at 12:27 am
I can’t imagine that putting slots in a run-down excuse for a mall is going to change much of anything. Of course, K-Mart will be right there when one needs to tighten one’s belt after blowing half a paycheck at the casino upstairs.
Also: “…but that’s what Foxwood’s used to tell us.” Want to try that one again?
September 10th, 2008 at 12:54 am
Thanks for pointing that line out Patrick. I deleted it because after another look it didn’t make any sense. Don’t you think a casino in a mall would have the effect of increasing traffic into the mall, therefore attracting different types of restaurants and stores? While I”m on it….How come no one ever thinks of building a multiplex theater in downtown? Union Station in DC has
one.
September 10th, 2008 at 1:01 am
I am not for the casinos but building it on Market street and near the convention center is the best move.
September 10th, 2008 at 6:18 am
(from Twitter) I don’t know anything about casinos (not my interest), but personally I think it’s a good idea. Philly is hurting for businesses and customers. This sounds like a win-win situation to me. Of course they’ll have kids hanging around, but that’s going to happen anywhere. I think I don’t they can completely escape the teen crowd - they probably have that problem down in AC also. I don’t go to casinos, so I’m speaking out of my league here. Also, I’ve been watching the battle with Foxwoods and Sugarhouse from the sidelines for quite a while - the fact that an agreement of any kind has been reached, I think, is a good thing … give it some line and see where it goes.
September 10th, 2008 at 7:59 am
Casinos? Near Independence Hall? BAD IDEA. The Gallery and Market East is bad enough now - can you imagine with a casino? How will that affect SEPTA and for how many years?
We do not need casinos at Valley Forge or within spitting distance of the Liberty Bell.
But it will probably happen because politicians are greedy and tacky…and all those going to the convention center will get taken for their money there and at the gallery…yup
September 10th, 2008 at 8:17 am
This will be quite interesting to see how it gets played out over time. There is always good and bad to every decison made, it is odd that they picked that location and how did they come to that agreement? I am just curious as to how it will be built we already have traffic issues inthe city which has become a pedestrians nightmare ~
Revenue is allways great~ jobs created ~ easy access to Septa ~ the Gallery is in dire need of a facelift~
September 10th, 2008 at 9:54 am
I don’t think it is a good idea to have any casinos built in our city. It is going to end up bringing more crime and we have enough to deal with already.
September 10th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
Well, my gut reaction is negative, but that’s probably just because I hate casinos. Setting that aside, I think the above commentators have good points — if they do build a casino that’s at least halfway decent, I think it’ll make the Gallery (and Market Street around it) an attractive destination for restaurants and shops that right now don’t give that place a second look. That, in turn, might transform the Gallery into less of a “run-down excuse for a mall.”
But another consideration is that this will put a casino, arguably a hot-spot destination, right on all the SEPTA rail lines. Parking around there is already a nightmare, and I think casino-goers will figure that out quickly… which will result in a serious and sustainable boost in ticket sales for SEPTA. And let’s face it, they could use it.
So that’s a boost for the Gallery, a boost for SEPTA, and an overall boost for the city as out-of-towners come in to depart with their cash.
Now, whether or not any of us *locals* will be caught dead anywhere near the resulting zoo after 5pm, is a different question altogether.
September 22nd, 2008 at 9:19 pm
I don’t think its a good idea, first of all there are small business owned by minoroties in the gallery mall. This is a way 2 up their rent so they can’t afford 2 pay it. this will ultimately put these people out of business. the mall has been tryn 2 make the gallery mall a mainstream mall unsuccessfully for years, Also you think the crime rate is high now just wait til’ the casino gets here. Nutter and Rendell don’t
care cause they don’t have 2 live around the site!!!!
October 21st, 2008 at 10:14 pm
I am a store manager at one of the Gallery’s stores and I think it would be wonderful for the retailers in the mall. The casino would bring more business and a more differse patronage to the Gallery. Inviting more upscale vendors to the mall and perhaps compete with the retailers in the Rittenhouse area. The image of The Ghetto Mall needs to be turned around for the positive growth of the Center City district. I don’t see the problem of the casino being close to the Liberty Bell. I believe that the casino would give all those tourists, that come from around the world to see the Liberty Bell, something to do in the evening. Philadelphia closes early and leaves tourists wanting for a night life. Their options are South Street or the Theater. We need more entertainment for our tourists, including a center city movie complex.
October 22nd, 2008 at 5:02 am
Thanks Trisha for adding your thoughts in.
November 29th, 2008 at 3:27 am
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