Casino reveals a new look

With weather rolling the dice, the renamed Northern Quest Resort & Casino unveiled a 50,000-square-foot expansion New Year’s Eve despite construction setbacks. All but a few of the new slot machines were ready for play, said Kent Caputo, chief financial officer for the Kalispel Tribal Economic Authority. The tribe owns Northern Quest. But Liquid, the expansion’s centerpiece lounge, and the Legends of Fire cigar lounge were not open because snow and closed roads in the past two weeks delayed some deliveries, he said. “This weather has really hit us hard,” Caputo said. “Things aren’t showing up.” He said work continued right up to an 8 p.m. ribbon-cutting that opened a space with rippling concrete and carpeted flooring, accented by overhead canopies and other touches themed to the setting of the Kalispel tribal reservation along the Pend Oreille River. Liquid, set off by curtains of flowing water, will be an “urban refuge,” he said. Northern Quest will have 1,600 slot machines and 37 table games in its gaming areas when the expansion is completed. Liquid was expected to open this weekend, and Legends sometime this week, he said, noting that work on the lounges resumed New Year’s Day. The opening of “Q,” a sports restaurant and lounge, is scheduled for Jan. 17; a food court will be ready in March. In November, a $17 million, 1,400-space parking garage opened at the casino’s north end. Meanwhile, a 250-room hotel and spa is emerging west of the new casino area, with completion expected by the end of the year, Caputo said. He said the completed and ongoing projects, plus updates to other restaurants, will cost $200 million. Without new attractions, he said, casinos can go stale. “We’re transforming the property from that of a free-standing casino into a destination resort that will become a focal point for the entire region,” he said. The casino opened in December 2000. The initial investment was $23 million in what was then a 53,000-square-foot facility employing about 500. When the hotel opens, the resort will employ almost 1,900. “This is our most ambitious expansion to date and represents a major step forward for the Kalispel Tribe,” Tribal Chairman Glen Nenema said. “We continue to take bold steps to create more opportunities for tribal members, as well as grow the economy of the whole community.” Although casinos in Las Vegas and Atlantic City, N.J., are reporting significant declines in business, Caputo said regional casinos such as Northern Quest continue to do well. He did not want to discuss the casino’s revenues, but added that the Kalispels have approached expansion prudently lest Northern Quest outgrow the market. The tribe does not want to put itself in a position where it has to lay off employees, he said. “We have a high percentage of people who have worked here since the day we opened.” Contact Bert Caldwell at (509) 459-5450 or bertc@spokesman.com.