THREE RESTAURANTS OPEN TODAY AT MOHEGAN SUN

Mohegan Sun's new expansion offers affordable eateries
Revamped Winter Entrance, 3 restaurants unveiled today
By JAMES MOSHER


Norwich Bulletin
Posted Jun 30, 2009 @ 11:43 PM
Mohegan, Conn. —


With routes to consumers’ gambling wallets blocked by the recession, Mohegan Sun hopes to reach them through their stomachs.The casino is scheduled to unveil a major expansion, opening three restaurants and a reconfigured Winter Entrance


Today’s event, which features 11 a.m. ribbon-cuttings, is the largest introduction of culinary offerings since the casino opened its shops concourse in 2001, spokeswoman Cathy Soper said. Additional gambling isn’t on the menu, but recession-conscious pricing is.


“These are all nongaming entities and all pretty affordable,” Soper said. Headlining the occasion will be the opening of Bobby’s Burger Palace in the Casino of the Earth. The hamburger restaurant, owned by renowned chef and TV personality Bobby Flay, will be followed by another Flay creation, Bar Americain, this autumn.


These ventures seem poised to mirror the success of David Burke’s businesses at Foxwoods Resort Casino. Burke opened a burger emporium followed by David Burke Prime, a steakhouse that was named Connecticut’s top new restaurant in the most recent Zagat Survey.


Mohegan Sun’s top officer eschewed the notion of copying his rival.“This has nothing to do with Foxwoods,” CEO Mitchell Etess said during a tour of the $41 million expansion Tuesday.Local customersRather, Etess and others said, the project is aimed at capturing more of the local market with attractive pricing and amenities.


A standard burger at Bobby’s costs only $6.50.“The price point is just right,” Etess said.


A new concourse for the Winter garage and parking lot connects it with the casino’s winter entrance, so patrons no longer need to go outside.“This will make it a lot easier for our local customers to come and go,” he said.


Also in the mix is an appeal using well-known Connecticut attractions. Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana, beloved for decades thanks to its original New Haven store, is among the eateries opening today. “Everybody in Connecticut knows Pepe’s,” Lindsay Todd, a Mohegan Sun marketing intern, said during the tour.Fidelia’s Market, eventually to be home to five restaurants, will also open with its Jasper White’s Summer Shack Express starting business today. Francis Rosselli, co-owner of Pepe’s Pizza and grandson of founder Frank Pepe, is scheduled to be at today’s openings.


Tribal Chairman Bruce “Two Dogs” Bozsum is slated to attend, as are Etess and Flay.“It’s very exciting,” Etess said. “Everything seems very well integrated.”


Route 2A workThe new restaurant and commuter areas, part of Project Horizon, are also linked with an ongoing Route 2A highway project and a planned Earth Hotel Tower.


The tower’s construction remains suspended because of the recession.


The roadwork, slated for completion at the end of this month, was aimed at creating easier access to the tower, but should help in other ways.


“Getting out of Mohegan Sun hasn’t been easy for some time,” Etess said. “This (project) will help us solve a nagging problem. A lot of good things are happening.”


EDITORIAL FOOTNOTE: The new food area has a ribbon cutting at 11:00 A.M., this morning. See you there. What about the HOTEL that wasn't built? Was it the economy or poor planning by the Tribal Council? You mean, they didn't know about Twin Rivers or the casinos in New York? Are you kidding me? Off course, they knew. Bad planning, again. The new connection to the Winter Garage, goes to the garage and not where the hotel was going to be located. Go to the Winter Garage and look at the doomed hotel, and make your own opinion. Another mess. What do you think?