Illinois Casino Prepares to Reopen After Fire

After being forced to close for three months by a welding fire that got out of control, the Empress Casino in Illinois is set to open again with new improvements.

The Empress Casino in Joliet, Illinois, is set to open its doors once again after damage from a raging fire caused it to shutter in March. The casino will start accepting business again June 25th, more than three months after a kitchen fire swept through the building, causing extensive damage.

Originally, operators had planned to continue running parts of the casino that were unharmed ine fire while repairs were done, but it was decided the process could be speeded up significantly by closing the entire operation, said the gambling venue's general manager. 

Frank Quigley says the casino was able to use the break to update its previous Egyptian theme with a more contemporary look, and refurbishment of the entire interior took place during the shutdown.

New to the casino are a VIP lounge for regular high-rollers, and a high-stakes gaming area vseparate from the general gambling floor.

Quigley said the name will soon be changed due to the thematic change, but will remain the Empress until a decision on a new name is announced.

"In the short term, closing down was devastating for the city, but in the long term, this is going to help us become a more desirable destination in a very competitive market," Quigley said.

At the time of the fire, the incident became one of a series of casino fire incidents involving fires related to welding repairs, including fires at the Monte Carlo in Las Vegas and the Mohegan Sun in Connecticut.