Meadows Racetrack & Casino Reaches Out to Nearby Merchants

PENNSYLVANIA -- As reported by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: "Some weeks ago, a couple of executives from The Meadows Racetrack & Casino in Washington County strolled into Bella Colore Salon
Artist's rendering of the Meadows Casino upon completion.  & Spa and bought thousands of dollars worth of gift cards, 200 of them in all, to be doled out to frequent gamblers at the racetrack's brand new slots casino.

"'That's 200 new clients,' said Roberta Williams, owner of the salon, about a half-mile from the casino. 'I'm thrilled about it.'

"It's that sort of goodwill that The Meadows hopes to engender among nearby retail businesses and service vendors from Washington and Allegheny counties. Partly out of convenience, partly because it wants to be a good corporate neighbor, The Meadows is reaching out to local companies.

"'Since day one, Cannery Casino Resorts [the Las Vegas-based owner of The Meadows] has focused on working with as many local companies and vendors as possible,' said David La Torre, who handles public relations for The Meadows. 'Everything from our construction services to the napkins in our restaurants have all come from local companies.'

"...For business suppliers, the opening of the casino two weeks ago was the culmination of a months-long process. Companies of any stripe, in order to do business with a casino, had to post a $2,000 upfront fee and submit to a background check by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.

"That certification process took at least six months and up to a year for most of the companies, but it was worth it. John Dziak, chief executive of Washington Reprographics, says The Meadows and its casino now account for 2 to 3 percent of his business..."