Boyd Gaming has officially confirmed plans to demolish the Eastside Cannery, a Las Vegas casino that has remained closed since the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns. The company cited a lack of sufficient market demand to reopen the 17-year-old property, which will be replaced by a housing development.
Key Takeaways
- Boyd Gaming will demolish the Eastside Cannery, closed since 2020.
- The site is slated for a future housing development.
- The decision stems from insufficient market demand to reopen the facility.
The End of an Era on Boulder Highway
The Eastside Cannery, which first opened its doors in August 2008, will be torn down after more than five years of inactivity. Boyd Gaming stated that there is "not sufficient market demand to reopen the facility." The company is currently in discussions to sell the 29.5-acre site for residential use, marking a significant shift for the Boulder Highway location.
A Look Back at Eastside Cannery
Before its closure, the Eastside Cannery boasted a 16-story tower with 307 hotel rooms, a 64,000-square-foot casino floor, several dining and bar options, a 16th-floor club, and extensive meeting and ballroom spaces. Even after shutting down in 2020, Boyd Gaming continued to invest over half a million dollars monthly to maintain the property’s utilities, IT, and security systems. The site also served the community during the pandemic, acting as a weekly food distribution center for Three Square Food Bank and a training ground for local law enforcement and firefighters.
Strategic Redevelopment and Market Shifts
Boyd Gaming acquired the Eastside Cannery, along with its sister property Cannery North Las Vegas, for $230 million in 2016. The company already operates nearby locals’ properties, including Sam’s Town on Boulder Highway, and is developing Cadence Crossing on the site of its former Henderson Joker’s Wild Casino. The decision to demolish Eastside Cannery aligns with Boyd’s strategy to adapt to evolving market conditions in east Las Vegas.
Broader Industry Trends
The demolition of Eastside Cannery follows a trend of property disposals and transformations in the Las Vegas Valley since the COVID-19 shutdowns. Red Rock Resorts previously sold and demolished three of its properties – Texas Station, Fiesta Rancho, and Fiesta Henderson. The Colorado Belle in Laughlin remains the only other casino property from that era that is still shuttered but standing.
Sources
- Eastside Cannery to be demolished, Boyd Gaming confirms, FOX5 Vegas.
- Shuttered Eastside Cannery casino to be demolished, Boyd Gaming announces, The Nevada Independent.
