A former New Hampshire lawmaker and Concord businessman, Andy Sanborn, is proposing to build a new, 43,000 square-foot casino and entertainment center on Concord’s east side.
The facility would include 24,000 square feet of gaming with 634 seats, 8,500 square feet of dining and a brewpub with a 150-patron capacity. Sanborn, a former state senator, made a presentation September 22 to the city’s planning board. He promised the city 250 jobs and more charitable contributions, according to the Concord Monitor.
Eventually he wants to add a hotel and an entertainment center. Sanborn is the owner of the Draft Sports Bar & Grill and the Concord Casino. In the Granite State, 35 percent of gross revenue from casinos go back to charity.
Sanborn added, “The way that New Hampshire has established the ability to help us raise money for charitable causes is really, really cool and we are just getting great satisfaction out of doing it.” Sanborn said Thursday. “We are traditional New Hampshire Yankee people who love everything that makes New Hampshire, New Hampshire. We want to pay homage to who we are as a people, and this is a way to aesthetically celebrate that.”
The project designer estimates that the proposed casino “would become the largest fundraiser for local charitable organizations in the county.”
Sanborn said he would increase the number of charities receiving contributions from his properties from 36 to 72. They include such things as Little League, veteran services, domestic violence shelters, homelessness and addiction services.
He said the facility would attract tourists, adding, “People won’t have to go to their local government body for a handout as much because this will truly provide services.”
Sanborn will formally present the plans for phase one, the casino and restaurant in October. Phase two would be the event center, and hotel. He is still looking for a location on the east side of the city.
Board members had some suggestions for Sanborn. One suggested that he use an already developed space, like an existing vacant mall—rather than “virgin” land. In general, though, they liked the proposal.
