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Originally Posted by sguil1
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With a topping out ceremony set for this week at Harrah’s New Orleans Hotel & Casino, the finish line gets a bit closer for what soon will be the updated and re-branded Caesars New Orleans — including Nobu restaurant and a Nobu-branded hotel.
On Tuesday, Oct. 3, Caesars Entertainment will hold the “topping out” ceremony for the new 340-room Caesars New Orleans hotel tower currently under construction as part of the $435-million overhaul of Harrah’s New Orleans. This progress joins the project’s most recent headway — completion of the 12,000-square-foot food hall renovation. With the topping out for the hotel, “we will have finished the completion of the last floor in terms of pouring the concrete and installing the last of the beams,” said Kennedy Smith, marketing vice president for Caesars Entertainment.
“We are looking at about a little less than a year out with welcoming our first guest … estimated summer 2024,” said Smith.
Also for summer 2024 is recent regulatory direction for the official rebranding from Harrah’s New Orleans to Caesars New Orleans, Smith said.
Project at-a-glance
Caesars Entertainment announced the $325-million renovation investment in December 2020. Construction began in 2021 and Caesars Entertainment has accomplished an impressive feat — not shutting down operations of Harrah’s New Orleans while updating and transitioning for the 2024 conversion.
“As we take on those two large projects with the hotel and the casino, it’s a little unique that we are staying open through this massive, multi-year transformation; it’s almost in 24 different puzzle pieces where we would take a portion of the casino out of service and keep the other areas open,” said Smith. “With that, we’re constantly juggling different budgets and constantly juggling different projects depending upon what we learn once we begin to take those walls down and (begin) to make those improvements.”
As of Oct. 1, the venture has grown to a $435-million price tag, Smith said, a 34 percent increase. In a statement, Samir Mowad, senior vice president and general manager for Harrah’s New Orleans called the increased price tag evidence of the company’s commitment.
“Caesars Entertainment continues to be committed to the future of New Orleans and Louisiana,” Mowad said. “The significant increase from $325 million to $435 million to our capital investment is a testament to that belief. We will continue to do our part to make our city a world class destination filled with first-class amenities.”
Caesars already has deals in place with three of the four specialty food vendors inhabiting the new Food Hall: Nina Compton’s Creole Cottage, Pizza Cake by “Cake Boss” Buddy Valastro, celebrity chef Bobby Flay’s Bobby’s Burgers and a fourth, which is yet to be developed, Smith said. In the previous quick service restaurant space will now be Emeril’s Brasserie, Emeril Lagasse’s first French-inspired restaurant concept which will dovetail his more typical Creole flavors with French-inspired dishes. A fast casual coffee and bakery concept model called Emeril’s Petite Brasserie will also be a part of the space, which occupies approximately 9,000 square feet at the ground floor.
“Emeril’s Brasserie, which will be a three-meal breakfast, lunch and dinner restaurant, will be right at that Canal Street entrance,” said Smith. The (dining) areas are different in both their physical location as well as the Food Hall is a bit more of a quick service, order at the counter concept where Emeril’s Brasserie is more of a sit-down.”
Smith expects Emeril’s Brasserie to have a soft launch “a few days before Halloween” and fully operational by early November. Ryan Gootee General Contractors worked in collaboration with AECOM/Tishman in renovating the space. JCJ Architecture was the designer on the project.
Seems like some of these projects are a bit ahead of schedule because of the dry weather we have had which is great for one thing at least!
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