Are casino buffets going extinct in Reno? Why only 2 have reopened - Reno Gazette-Journal
Once a staple of Reno's dining scene, all but two of the city's casino buffets remain closed with no immediate plans to reopen despite the easing of COVID-19 pandemic-related restrictions.
The future is uncertain for what were once sprawling arrays of serve-yourself decadence: the Peppermill's Island Buffet, the Sparks Nugget's Rotisserie Buffet, the buffets at the Eldorado, Rail City and Boomtown — all still closed, the curtains drawn, the chairs stacked.
None of the casino representatives the RGJ spoke to said explicitly that these buffets had shuttered for good, but they said nothing of concrete plans to reopen in the near future.
Only two of seven buffets in major Reno casinos have reopened since the pandemic shuttered all of them in spring 2020. Of those two — the Grand Buffet at Grand Sierra Resort and Casino, and Toucan Charlie's at the Atlantis Casino Resort — only Toucan Charlie's operates daily.
So what happened?
A costly business
The economic principles behind a successful buffet are relatively simple: minimize labor costs and food waste, use inexpensive ingredients, and locate the buffet in a highly trafficked area. An analysis by The Hustle found that, on average, regular buffets booked a 5 percent profit on an average $20 ticket.
Casino buffets, on the other hand, were never meant to be moneymakers. They serve more as marketing tools to lure in visitors rather than generate meaningful revenue.
Amanda Belarmino, an assistant professor at the William F. Harrah College of Hospitality at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, told RGJ that the decision about when and how to reopen a buffet will be largely dependent on the value of the individual buffet to the property.
"For properties where (a buffet) is more of an amenity, then it makes sense to take a wait-and-see attitude for the time being," Belarmino said.
Toucan Charlie's at the Atlantis is the only open casino buffet that has returned, with a full staff, to self-service. It wasn't until the beginning of this month that Toucan Charlie's discontinued the server-based buffet service it had used during most of the pandemic.
Chira Pagidi, corporate director of food and beverage at Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc., which owns the Atlantis, told RGJ that reopening Toucan Charlie's Buffet "was never even a question."
"Offerings are not always about 'profits,' it's about creating a guest experience which is exceptional and memorable for everyone visiting the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa. Toucan Charlies Buffet & Grille is extremely popular, and as long as our guests enjoy it, we will be sure to exceed their expectations."
Chris Abraham, senior vice president of marketing at the Grand Sierra, which is owned by billionaire Alex Meruelo, told RGJ, "We don't look at the buffet as a moneymaker."
Abraham said there were myriad challenges in maintaining a casino buffet during the current economic climate.
"The key driver is food cost and labor," Abraham said.
The heightened volatility of food prices during the pandemic, Abraham told RGJ, has played a role in determining what to serve at the Grand Sierra's buffet. It has meant swapping out certain foods and ingredients when market prices soar.
"We might adjust the item, the type of meat or crab depending on pricing," Abraham said. "The prices of starches and corn are skyrocketing."
Pagidi confirmed that food price volatility due to COVID-19 has also affected Toucan Charlie's buffet business, though he added that it was "part of the process even when not in the throes of a global crisis."
Abraham sees a bright side to such price fluctuations. He says it's allowed the Grand Buffet to "spice it up" with different themes, which run every month. Last week, for example, the buffet featured a lobster weekend, which included one lobster tail per person and a variety of lobster-infused dishes. During the Fourth of July weekend, the Grand Sierra will run a barbecue buffet. From August 6-8, there will be a seafood-themed buffet.
The Grand Buffet has loosened pandemic restrictions in accordance with state and health department guidelines, but it still hasn't fully returned to its pre-pandemic self.
"In some cases, we are allowing self-serve, but in most cases, we are still serving portions directly to our guests," Abraham said. "There are no restrictions on how many portions a guest can receive unless we are running a theme buffet."
The future of the Reno casino buffet
Of the seven casinos that offered robust buffets for their visitors just 18 months ago, five of them remain shuttered with no declared plans to reopen.
Randy Kennedy, marketing director at the Nugget Casino Resort in Sparks, told the RGJ that there was currently no plan to reopen the Rotisserie Buffet in the near future.
"We are monitoring and adapting our restaurant offerings as our business evolves after returning from COVID-19-forced shutdowns. Several pandemic-related factors are affecting restaurant businesses, from food supply lines and costs to staffing challenges and health concerns," Kennedy said.
"We would consider a buffet in the future if it makes sense with business levels and demand, and it could balance with our goals of quality, affordability and guest service and comfort, all while maintaining a sustainable bottom line," Kennedy said.
Peppermill spokeswoman Katie Silva said the Island Buffet "remains closed while we evaluate future options."
Toucan Charlie's
Atlantis Casino Resort, 3800 S Virginia St.
Status: Open
Toucan Charlie's is the only casino buffet that operates daily in some capacity. They offer the following specials on weekends:
- Friday: Seafood Buffet.
- Saturday: Steak & Seafood Buffet.
- Saturday & Sunday: Champagne Brunch.
Hours and pricing vary, so we recommend checking the buffet website when planning a visit.
The Grand Buffet
Grand Sierra Resort, 2500 E 2nd St.
Status: Open
The Grand Buffet features a variety of food stations, including a smokehouse, taco bar, pho station, and sauté station. Upcoming themed buffets include:
The Grand Buffet is open from Friday to Sunday. Check their website for hours, prices, and occasional specialty offerings.
The Eldorado Buffet
Eldorado Resort Casino, 345 N Virginia St.
Status: Closed
Caesar's Entertainment, which owns Eldorado, did not respond to multiple requests for comment on the reopening of The Buffet.
The Rotisserie Buffet
Nugget Casino Resort, 1100 Nugget Ave., Sparks
Status: Closed
Randy Kennedy, marketing director at the Nugget, told the RGJ that there was currently no plan to reopen the buffet.
Famous Lobster Buffet
Boomtown Casino Hotel, 2100 Garson Rd.
Status: Closed
Joe Brady, director of business development at Boomtown, told RGJ that the casino had not decided whether to reopen the Famous Lobster Buffet:
"There have been discussions to open, it but we haven't made a decision on when that would be," Brady said.
"Also, the additional team members needed to satisfy health guidelines, coupled with the incredibly tight labor market, makes operating the buffet in a manner that our guests have come to expect very difficult."
The Buffet
Rail City Casino, 2121 Victorian Ave., Sparks
Status: Closed
Rail City in Sparks is owned by private investment firm Z Capital Group through its subsidiary Affinity Gaming. Vice President and General Manager Todd DeRemer told RGJ that the buffet "is not re-opening at this time."
The Island Buffet
Peppermill Resort Spa Casino, 2707 S Virginia St.
Status: Closed
"At this time Island Buffet remains closed while we evaluate future options," said marketing director Katie Silva. "We'll be sure to update you on any developments."
Evan Haddad works hard to bring you timely, relevant and interesting stories about food, drink, and city life in Reno.
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