PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SugarHouse Casino officially celebrated its completed expansion with a special appreciation ceremony and ribbon cutting today, Monday, May 9. The ceremony included remarks from casino leadership and public officials, as well as tours of the new amenities.
The ribbon cutting showcased the casino’s new attractions, including the SugarHouse Marketplace (featuring Philadelphia brands Saxbys Coffee, Tacconelli’s Pizzeria, Geno’s Steaks and a brand-new local concept, Revolution Grill), Hugo’s Frog Bar & Chop House, the multipurpose Event Center and the first-ever Poker Night in America Poker Room.
“We are excited to wrap up our much anticipated expansion and welcome guests to the bigger, better SugarHouse,” said General Manager Wendy Hamilton. “From world-class entertainment and dining to expanded gaming, SugarHouse is one of Philly’s premiere destinations for a night on the town or to hold a group event.”
Expansion Summary
On July 22, 2014, SugarHouse broke ground and began construction on the $164 million expansion to the casino. The expansion, designed by Cope Linder Architects of Philadelphia, increases SugarHouse’s 108,000-square-foot facility to approximately 260,000 square feet, not including the new seven-story parking garage of roughly 600,000 square feet. The larger gaming areas offer 44 additional table games, 289 new slots and a 28-table poker room. The expansion also brings in new non-gaming amenities, including additional restaurants and The Event Center.
About 500 new, full-time jobs have opened up at SugarHouse as a result of the expansion, bringing the current total to approximately 1,700 Team Members. SugarHouse has been voted a “Best Place to Work” and “Top Workplace” by its Team Members every year since opening, without exception.
The Marketplace of Philly Favorites
Four new dining options have arrived at SugarHouse Casino with the completion of The Marketplace. The Marketplace allows guests to enjoy the Philly flavors just steps from the gaming floor. SugarHouse Casino now hosts Saxbys Coffee, Tacconelli’s Pizzeria, Geno’s Steaks and the brand-new Revolution Grill. Each restaurant brings its own unique taste and style to the casino, offering guests sit-down or to-go dining options.
Saxbys Coffee – The Philadelphia-based coffee company focuses on hospitality while offering specialty coffees, espressos, smoothies and a variety of breakfast items. (Opening in early June 2016.)
Tacconelli’s Pizzeria – Tacconelli’s, famous for its fresh brick oven tomato pie, is now firing up its delicious pizzas right on property at SugarHouse.
Geno’s Steaks – The “Philadelphia Original” brings its classic cheesesteak to SugarHouse Casino’s Marketplace, offering thinly sliced rib-eye cheesesteaks on oven-warm bread, and guests always have the option to order “wit or wit-out” onions.
Revolution Grill – Revolution Grill is SugarHouse’s own grab-and-go outlet. The grill offers fresh and made-to-go order salads, wraps and paninis that are perfect for a sit-down meal or for eating on the run.
Hugo’s Frog Bar & Chop House
The legendary steakhouse icon Gibsons Restaurant Group has opened its first and only Philadelphia restaurant, Hugo’s Frog Bar & Chop House, right inside SugarHouse Casino. This will be Gibsons’ 13th location, and it’s the only restaurant group in the country to have its own USDA Prime Angus beef certification, which Hugo’s serves at SugarHouse.
Hugo’s Frog Bar & Chop House is located in the northwest corner of the first floor of SugarHouse’s expanded property. The combined seating in the bar and dining rooms accommodates more than 300 guests. The restaurant also features a riverfront patio for outdoor dining. Stylistically, Hugo’s marries a classic steakhouse with contemporary design and seamlessly blends upscale and casual.
As part of its extensive menu, Hugo’s is serving USDA Gibsons Prime Angus Beef, which is aged for 50 days and cooked in an 1,800-degree infrared broiler. This gives the steak a thin, charred crust to help seal in the natural juices. The “Philly Cut” is a 12-ounce rib eye cap, topped with smoked provolone, crispy shallots and fried herbs. This steak is served only at Hugo’s SugarHouse location.
Gibsons Restaurant Group is also the exclusive caterer for the brand-new SugarHouse Casino Event Center, which boasts customizable menus that feature iconic cuts of USDA Gibsons Prime Angus Beef and a pristine selection of fine seafood.
The Event Center
The Event Center boasts a 30,000 square-foot multipurpose space, now available for booking. Located on the second floor of the casino, the facility is tailor-made for corporate events, wedding receptions, black-tie galas, major performances and more. It features floor-to-ceiling windows and beautiful panoramic views of the riverfront and the Ben Franklin Bridge. Minutes from Center City, the SugarHouse Casino Event Center can accommodate small and large groups of more than 1,000 guests for standing room only, or up to 800 people for banquet seating, and is accessible for all ages.
Since opening, The Event Center has hosted the Philadelphia Business Journal’s annual Book of Lists Celebration, as well as performances from renowned country singer LeAnn Rimes and world-acclaimed comedian Trevor Noah. Both Rimes and Noah performed sold-out shows to kick off The Event Center’s entertainment schedule.
Poker Night in America Poker Room
The upsized SugarHouse Casino includes a more than 6,000 square-foot dedicated poker space, named the Poker Night in America Poker Room. The state-of-the-art Poker Room features 28 tables and 252 seats. The Poker Night in America Poker Room is the first of its kind, becoming a home base for the popular CBS Sports TV program. SugarHouse welcomed Poker Night in America in April to record an installment of the show with some of the most famous names in poker, including Joe McKeehan and Matt Glantz.
Expanded Gaming and New High Limit Lounge
The newly expanded gaming space brings in 44 additional table games and 289 new slots, a 20 percent increase from SugarHouse’s previous gaming offerings. The new High Limit Lounge offers a private atmosphere, while still being a part of the casino action. Guests will enjoy high limit gaming, concierge service, private parking and more.
Parking Garage
The complimentary parking garage offers 1,500 new spaces for guests to park, with direct elevator access to the casino floor. Through a partnership with the City of Philadelphia’s Public Art Program, an urban light sculpture was installed on the façade of the garage facing Delaware Avenue. Designed by East Falls, Pennsylvania-based artist Lyn Godley, the beautiful, colorful display spans 290 feet wide and 60 feet high. The artwork is composed of a series of light boxes and façade lighting that change colors during the day and throughout the night to reflect similar patterns in the flow of the Delaware River.
ABOUT SUGARHOUSE CASINO
SugarHouse, which opened in September 2010 as Philly’s casino, features 1,891 slots, up to 103 table games, a 28-table poker room, fun and unique dining options, riverfront views and free on-site parking. The casino employs approximately 1,700 people, and for five consecutive years it has been voted a “Best Place to Work” by the Philadelphia Business Journal and a “Top Workplace” by Philly.com. For more information, visit www.sugarhousecasino.com.
