CHANGES AT THE MOHEGAN SUN

Several weeks ago, I wrote a story about the changes that were going on in the Mohegan Sun by the waterfall at the entrance to Sky Casino. This article is to update you on these changes and other changes that we have found out about.

By the waterfall, Tommy Bahama's and the Puma stores are now open. The two stores are quite modern looking and very bright and cheery. The prices are a little high. An example is in the Puma store a baseball cap with a Puma emblem on it was $28.00. We wish them success.

Directly to the south of the waterfall (entrance to Sky Casino) the new patio area for Tuscany is now up and running. It matches the patio area to the west side of the waterfall that was already there. With the rock display in the middle of the corridor, it can get congested for the crowds walking through. Still a job well done.

Above, Tommy Bahama's and Puma's store is Fedilia's (Mohegan tribal owned restaurant) which we have been informed through sources is closing in the near future. We were told that the casino supposedly felt that they can rent the space and make more money. This is a Mohegan tribal source of income. By closing the restaurant is the casino saying that Fedilia's never made money or not very much money? Fedilia's always looked busy. It was the only restaurant that was open twenty four (24) hours a day. It was the only sit down restaurant that casino and hotel customers could go to for breakfast. We hear to make up for the Fedilia's not being there for breakfast, Tuscany will have breakfasts hours, with breakfasts available. Can anyone tell the Mohegan tribe, what is going in the space?

In the retail corridor between the Sky Casino and Earth Casino, there is a ginger bread house you can walk through and a new addition this year an octagon shaped gazebo

In a press release by the Mohegan tribe, on Thursday, December 4, 2008, said that we are going to still put in a retail corridor where the original winter entrance was. The cost estimated at sixty seven million dollars ($67,000,000.00). In the area is supposed to be Pepe's pizzeria Restaurant. Sources said, that the funds for the retail corridor, was coming from the Project Horizon expansion line of credit.

The entire Project Horizon was to cost $925 million. The Casino of the Wind, two (2) parking lots were built, probably the side walks on Route 32, the entrance ramp road work on to Route 2-A and the widening of the on ramp going from Route 2-A onto I-395 northbound. If you do the math, minus the hotel (alone is $734 million) that comes to $191 million. Now add to the $191 million the $67 million in the press release your total is $258 million ($258,000,000.00). Some tribal members believe the number is around $300 million ($300,000,000.00).

The last thing, I would like to inform Tribal members is that we were told that they are going to divide Birches Bar and Grill (tribal owned restaurant and bar) into two (2) restaurants. One will be a smaller Birches and the other half will be some other restaurant or retail area. The point is we spent something like seven million dollars ($7,000,000.00) plus to change the area from the Chiefs Deli to Uncas' Grill. Then we (Mohegan tribe) spent more money to change it to Birches.Now it is going to be renovated again. Enough already. Who is minding the store? What do you think?