The city council of Fresno, California has delayed the move and reopening of the Club One Casino from its original location to the Granite Park Neighborhood.
City council member Tyler Maxwell asked CEO Kyle Kirkland to reach out more to the neighbors at the new location, which formerly housed Club Imperio and Cabo Wabo. He said the casino had committed a “cardinal sin” by not trying to meet with the nearby residents. He said he doubted they would resist a casino moving there.
When the move and remodel is complete, Kirkland said he will employ about 150 workers who have been on leave for 17 months, and eventually as many as 300 once all the improvements have been made.
One of the out-of-work casino employees told city council members, “I’m looking forward to getting my job back. I need it.”
Kirkland objected, saying the delays were hurting his business: “We can’t keep pushing this out.” He added that he loses $1.5 million for every month he is closed and that the city pays $1 million in taxes every year.
A councilmember who voted against delaying the move, declared, “Kirkland came here. He followed all the rules. He did all the noticing This is just bullshit and wrong.”
