Nash Casino to open with 1,000-plus HHR games, five restaurants
The Nash Casino is set to open on March 5.
On Tuesday morning, dozens of employees gathered for training as construction workers put the finishing touches on the complete renovation of the interior of the former department store.
The 130,000-square-foot anchor space is now filled with hundreds of electronic gaming machines, table games, multiple restaurants and the state's largest video screen that spans across two floors. The project represents a $250 million investment by ECL Entertainment.
"This will be the largest charitable gaming casino in New Hampshire when it opens," said Nash Casino General Manager Eric Althaus during a tour.
Those 21-plus are hit with the bright colors of the slot-like historic horse racing (HHR) machines no matter what entrance they arrive from. The HHR machines are located on both floors, including a designated smoking lounge with a ventilation system.
HHR machines look and operate similar to other gaming machines, but players pick winners of randomly selected horse races that have already been run.
The only things that might be reminiscent of Sears are the escalators that run from the bottom and top floors. Much of the interior had yet to be constructed when Althaus started in October.
"There was no floor, no wallpaper, no carpet," he said. "So it doesn't take long to build it once you have everything (planned). Most of the work comes before the construction starts in all the design and architectural work."
The High Limit room, which takes on a different look, is also on the top floor.
"We are just trying to change the theme in all the spaces," Althaus said. "Different carpet, different chairs, different light fixtures. Just an overall different feel in the room."
Five different restaurant and bar concepts wrap around the gaming floor on the second floor and offer everything from fine dining to quick bits.
The fine dining restaurant is called Proper Chophouse & Cocktails, which has a more casual lounge/bar area and a 16-seat private dining room.
"The main room will have your white cloth settings," Althaus said.
The layout of the restaurants and gaming machines was designed so guests know where they are at all times, Althaus said.
Other concepts include Woodlands Cafe, which will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner; Lucky Lantern Noodle House, a 47-seat eatery which features eclectic Asian cuisine; and Electric Pheasant, where live music will be played.
Stadium Social Sports Bar & Grill features a massive 60-foot by 32-foot video wall, which stretches both floors.
"This is the 'wow factor,'" Althaus said. "This is the largest permanent LED video wall in the state of New Hampshire."
The screen can be programmed to show one game or multiple games. The seats are free during midweek slow times, but for big games seats need to be reserved for a cost.
At the bottom level of the stadium is New Hampshire's first Topgolf Swing Suite, which offers four state-of-the-art golf simulators, which feature iconic 18-hole golf course like Pebble Beach, PGA National, Torrey Pines and St. Andrews.
The bar also includes pool, shuffleboard and foosball.
The bottom floor of the casino is home to table games, including blackjack, poker and roulette.
In all, the casino features 1,046 HHR machines, 28 tables games, 60 electric table machines and 19 poker tables.
The goal is to hire between 600 to 700 people.
Althaus said most of those hired don't know what to expect when they walk in the door of the old Sears.
"Team members come in and they are speechless; their jaws drop," Althaus said.
He said they are ready for opening day.
"We are just fine tuning all the training and getting more and more people," he said. "We had another 100 people start (Monday). We are close to the need. We have a few positions we are looking to hire."
The charitable gaming casino is estimated to contribute $24 million each year for about 100 New Hampshire nonprofits.
The Nash will be open every day at 9 a.m. Closing hours will be 2 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 4 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
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