Fallsview Casino Resort in Niagara Falls has recently added a new entertainment venue, finalized plans for a new state of the art sports bar & lounge, is looking to fill in retail vacancies, and will be welcoming Hazukido this summer.
The resort offers a variety of boutiques, featuring brands such as Danier, Roots, and Swarovski, with plans to fill four retail vacancies.
“We have 38 retail units and Covid changed a few of our status tenants we have. We lost a few, but a lot of them have held on. So right now, we have four vacancies,” says Annette Bennitz, the Director of Resort Sales and Retail at Fallsview Casino Resort. “As we take a look at our current situation and we take a look at what the future looks like. At the end of the day, we want to make sure we are bringing and adding experiences to our guests so there is a desire to visit and want to return.”
Bennitz says retailers who left were not necessarily bigger brands and they were smaller local retailers. The four available retail units range from 900 square feet to about 1,600 square feet and they are looking for retailers who can bring unique experiences to the property.
New “World-Class” Entertainment Venue
The resort has recently opened a “world-class theatre” which can hold up to 5,000 people. The OLG Stage opened this past fall.
“We opened up with a bang as most of our shows are at 100 percent occupancy. The new entertainment centre is a game changer for all of us, including our tenants in terms of foot traffic,” says Richard Willett, the Vice President, Resort Operations at Niagara Casinos. “It is a 5,000 seat state of the art entertainment facility. Just after opening, we were nominated and won several awards for the space. We were ranked top ten in the world and that is based on the overall experience, the lights, the sound, the ceiling, and more.”
Willett says the new venue will help retailers on site and will bring new visitors to the area, as not only guests from the Greater Toronto Area are coming in, but also travelers from the United States. The entertainment centre has a variety of shows, including comedians, country music, classic rock and “golden oldies” music. This summer, the calendar is packed with concerts which include Kevin Hart, AQUA, 80’s Tour with Rick Springfiled, Gabriel Iglesias. The event schedule also includes Vegas headliners, like Rod Stewart, Patti Labelle and Donny Osmond. The resort also has a second theatre, Avalon, which holds around 1,500 people and hosts over 200 events every year.
“What’s neat about retail here compared to a standalone mall, is our customers are really coming for excitement. They are coming to the casino for entertainment and dining, and the shops are an added bonus. They are not necessarily coming here to shop first as you would in a mall. So, our intent is to host twelve shows a month with our new entertainment centre and we will continue to host shows in our Avalon ballroom. So there is always something to do here. Typically, an average day for us is anywhere from 12,000 guests to 25,000 guests a day,” says Bennitz.
Hazukido Opening Soon
Hazukido, a Japanese-style French specialty croissant bakery, will be opening at the resort in the next two months. The bakery has a significant following in Canada after opening its first location in Toronto in November 2020 and has grown to 10 locations, with three more scheduled to open (Niagara Falls, Toronto Union Station and Richmond, BC).
“For Hazukido, it is all about the experience,” says Bennitz. “It is not ‘here is your croissant we are going to sell you every day seven days a week’ – they are serving specialty croissants that change. They have croissants that are your traditional, glazed, or sweet, but they also have croissants stuffed with lobster.”
The cafe will be in a high profile location in the food hall, and Bennitz says it will “draw people in to try something special.” Hazukido also changes its menu so guests can always expect to try something new when they visit.
The storefront is located around the corner from the tour bus hub, so Bennitz says when people get off the ground transportation coming from Toronto or other cities, they have no other choice but to walk past the bakery. Consumers can find unique croissants such as Truffle Crab, Caramel Pudding, Chocolate Banana, Smoked Salmon, Earl Grey Bubble, and more.
“It is not just about filling the available units with any retailer. It’s about filling it with the right tenant and in the right spot, with an offering that will add value to both the guest experience and to the property. We are looking for a relationship, not just to fill a space because we can fill a space,” says Bennitz.”
A New Place to Watch The Playoffs
Willett says he has just signed off on the plans for the resort’s new sports venue which will be new on the gaming floor and will host up to around 250 guests.
The “state of the art” center will have huge screens, drinks and food, and will make guests feel like they are part of the game. Willett says on top of the technology, he has extended people’s experience by matching the sport with the restaurant’s menu.
“Often what happens is the food and beverage component is a secondary item or an afterthought – here it is going to be front and center. So we are going to have signature dishes and we are taking a look at every item to make sure people are amazed and want to come back, not only to watch the game but to also come back for that smash burger,” says Willett.
The new sports lounge will open in the fall, as Willett says is the goal, which will also benefit retailers on site as the foot traffic will increase.
Having More Outdoor Experiences
Fallsview Casino Resort is not only looking to up its game inside, but is looking to also add experiences outside during the summer. Every Thursday, the resort opens its backyard to a BBQ featuring food trucks from the region, beer and wine, and entertainment.
The backyard event started last year and Willett says it is a great way to bring the community out along with tourists. Bennitz says this also provides a great opportunity to support and showcase local businesses, such as Niagara wines and craft beers.
“Our intent is to start doing a lot more of that, so in the middle of June we are doing a food and wine festival. We have a number of chefs that are coming from the United States and Canada as well. So it is really about getting a lot of excitement to the property. It’s appealing to a wide demographic, so you could come to Hazukido for a croissant, you could come check out our backyard event, or go see a show,” says Willett.
*Images courtesy JD Louis Creative Media
Additional Retail Images from Fallsview Casino Resort
When are they ever going to fix the fountain in the side main entrance? It reminds me of a treadmill that so many buy and hang cloths on it. All they do is cover it up and at most times looks cheap. People spend millions a years at fallsview and yet they cant afford to fix it or replace it.Casino Niagra samething.