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Route 46 business sees some uptick with racino
By Kalea Hall
AUSTINTOWN
Rumors of a water park are flowing through the township, but business owners along the racino corridor on state Route 46 are focused on keeping their own operations ahead of the tide.
Most say the racino has provided business here and there but nothing jackpot-worthy.
“It is not a primary driver of rooms,” said David Kovass, president of Meander Hospitality Group, which operates the Hampton Inn along Route 46.
He hopes and expects to break ground on his new, 87-room Hilton hotel on Interstate Boulevard within the next couple of months.
Kovass, like many other business operators in the area, did not expect the racino to be a significant magnet for business because many racino patrons are from the area and don’t use the hotels.
But Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course has provided some business.
“We probably see maybe 10 to 20 rooms a week directly because of the racino,” said Shelley Stevens, general manager of the Comfort Inn along the corridor. “It’s not selling us out.”
Stevens says horse owners and jockeys stay at the inn. Many hotels in the area saw an increase in room rentals when the racino opened last September. Racing on the racino’s 1-mile thoroughbred race track started in November, making way for more business opportunities.
“No one expected it to fill the hotels,” Stevens said.
Stevens’ guests are happy to have an option for going to the racino.
“Anything is a bonus,” she said.
Joe Saadey, owner of The Upstairs Restaurant and operator of Saadeys Place inside the Best Western Meander Inn on Route 46, said his business keeps getting better, but that is not directly related to the racino.
“I am not going to say it doesn’t help, but that is not the bulk of the business,” he said.
He attributes the good business to the local customers and those staying at hotels in the area.
Best Western general manager Sarah McCoy has noticed a slight uptick in business with the racino’s proximity to the hotel.
“Most people who are going there are local,” McCoy said.
Frank Pasqualetti Sr., owner of the Holiday Inn Express and Candlewood Suites in the same area, also thinks the racino has provided some positive impact to his business.
“I think we have seen a little bit with the racing,” he said.
To bring in more people to the racino, Hollywood Gaming runs a shuttle through the Route 46 corridor and to the Salt Springs Road truck stop area in Weathersfield. The shuttle has an on-call service to the area hotels. It runs from 4:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and 4:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
The shuttle was recently decked out in Hollywood advertising with the hope of bringing in more patrons to play video lottery terminals, to bet on races or to dine.
“We think it is so bold,” said Mike Galle, general manager of the Austintown racino.
Rumors of more development outside of the Hilton, including a water park, have been shot down by township officials, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t potential for other development. For one, the zoning department has had no discussions with anyone on a water park. But there has been other interest.
“I anticipate future development within the next 18 to 24 months,” said Darren Crivelli, Austintown zoning inspector.