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66-742: Riviera Holdings Corporation was formed in 1993, after the Riviera resort on the Las Vegas Strip emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Riviera opened its second casino, in Black Hawk, Colorado, in February 2000. In June 2002, Riviera Holdings was chosen by officials in Jefferson County, Missouri , who wanted the company to construct and operate a casino approximately 60 miles south of St. Louis. In July 2002, Donald Trump purchased

132-534: A Reno collector of neon signs. Other signage from the facade, as well as another "Riviera" sign from the property's east entrance, were donated to the city's Neon Museum . A convention center was added in 1968, and a major expansion began 30 years later. This helped the Riviera stay competitive in the 2000s, with the property hosting numerous groups and events each year. Frank Marino (female impersonator) Frank Marino (born November 20, 1963)

198-414: A three-alarm fire occurred during 1989, in a new casino area that was under construction. Lumber had ignited due to sparks from a welder's torch, and the fire caused $ 3.5 million in damage. It was confined to the new addition, although smoke blackened the property's original hotel tower. Aside from the new casino space, the expansion project also added a 24-story tower. There were plans to eventually add

264-478: A 10-percent stake in the company, prompting speculation that he would take over the resort. However, Trump simply viewed the property as an investment, and bought into the company only to acquire a Nevada gaming license for potential projects in the future. He sold his shares in 2004. The company D. E. Shaw , one of the largest shareholders in Riviera Holdings, made a buyout offer later that year, but

330-448: A 43-story tower and an indoor amusement park, although these never materialized; the prior expansion work had gone significantly over budget, leading the parent company to file again for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 1991. The business emerged in 1993 as Riviera Holdings Corporation , owned by the previous secured creditors. Riklis was no longer involved with the property. In 1997, businessman Allen Paulson agreed to acquire

396-767: A 75% stake in Riviera, with another 21% held by Derek Stevens , owner of the Golden Gate casino. In September 2011, Riviera agreed to sell its Black Hawk casino for $ 76 million to Monarch Casino & Resort , owner of the Atlantis Casino Resort in Reno . Riviera (hotel and casino) The Riviera (colloquially, " the Riv ") was a hotel and casino on the northern Las Vegas Strip in Winchester, Nevada . It opened on April 20, 1955, and included

462-510: A 9.8-percent stake in Riviera Holdings for $ 2.2 million. Trump made the purchase for "investment purposes," and said that he had no plans to purchase or to operate the company's Riviera casino in Las Vegas. By that point, U.S. Trust Company of California had also purchased a 9.4-percent stake in the company. By January 2003, Trump had purchased additional shares in the company, putting his ownership above 10 percent, which required him to apply for

528-564: A Colorado location, the Riviera Black Hawk , in 2000, owning it for more than a decade. The company considered expanding the brand elsewhere as well. Prospective buyers for the Las Vegas location became more frequent in the 2000s, as development of the nearby Wynn resort was expected to help revitalize the northern Strip. In 2003, Italian investor Fabrizio Boccardi made an offer for Riviera Holdings, which rejected his bid. By that time, businessman Donald Trump had bought

594-574: A Las Vegas casino executive, also decided to sell his interest back to the Riviera. Several hotel expansions would take place, including the addition of a 12-story tower in 1966. Two years later, the Riviera was purchased by a new group, which included bankers E. Parry Thomas and Jerome Mack . The group also consisted of investors tied to the Parvin-Dohrmann Corp., which owned the Aladdin , Stardust , and Fremont casinos. In 1969,

660-517: A Nevada gaming license in February 2004, he subsequently sold his shares of the company on April 5, 2004. Company chairman Bill Westerman said that Trump purchased the shares solely to obtain a Nevada gaming license. As of October, 2005 the company had $ 200 million in annual revenues and 1,600 employees. On April 6, 2006 Riviera Acquisition Holdings announced a $ 427 million buy out offer that has been accepted. The offer included cash and assumption of existing debt. But on August 29, shareholders rejected

726-460: A Nevada gaming license. In March 2003, investor Fabrizio Boccardi had offered to purchase the company for $ 30 million, but was rejected. His purchase would have included the assumption of $ 216 million in debt. In July 2003, shareholders voted to end the company's "poison pill" , to attract potential partners. At that time, the company had plans for a casino in New Mexico. After Trump gained

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792-559: A carpet pattern that could only be the direct kin of '70s television." John L. Smith of the Las Vegas Review-Journal opined that the Riviera "generated a certain kind of history that ought to be remembered, but I'm not sure its notorious tenure qualifies it for a spot on the National Register of Historic Places ." Singer Pia Zadora , who was married to Riklis during his ownership of the Riviera, said of

858-539: A casino resort with a 50-story hotel tower. However, he backed out of the deal in 2023, citing the continual rise of interest rates in the U.S. Later that year, a deal was announced to sell the property to Brett Torino and Paul Kanavos for $ 125 million. The two had previously developed retail projects along the Strip such as 63 , and were also part of the group that sought to buy Riviera Holdings in 2006. Fontainebleau Las Vegas , which had recently opened just north of

924-460: A criminal record. Samuel Cohen, a Miami businessman, joined the Casa Blanca project in early 1953 as a financier. He was later identified as a member of Miami's S & G gambling syndicate and would be removed from the project as well, although rumors persisted that he secretly maintained an involvement. A new list of prospective owners, eliminating all but two of the original investors,

990-586: A deal was made to sell the Riviera to Parvin-Dohrmann, but the sale was blocked by the Nevada Gaming Control Board , due to the company's previous failure to report a change of ownership. Edward Torres was among the new ownership group and managed resort operations. Dean Martin was hired in 1969 to perform in the casino's showroom, and was given a 10% interest in the Riviera. Martin left in 1972, after Torres refused his request to cut his performance schedule from two nightly shows to one;

1056-411: A low-priced buffet, which closed after many years in 2013, unable to compete with its upscale competitors. It was the cheapest buffet on the Strip at the time of its closure, charging less than $ 15 a person. Upon opening, the Riviera featured a simple roadside sign along the Strip, replaced by a larger sign two years later. In 1966, a taller sign was added along the Strip. By 1990, it had been moved to

1122-508: A major expansion of its nearby Las Vegas Convention Center . On February 20, 2015, the LVCVA voted to purchase the resort from Riviera Holdings for $ 191 million, taking ownership immediately. The agency planned to demolish the resort to help make way for the new convention space. In the meantime, the Riviera was leased back to Paragon Gaming for the remainder of its operational history. The sale came less than two weeks after rumors emerged about

1188-536: A major role in the property's management. Law enforcement agencies suspected that he represented the Chicago Outfit 's interest in the Riviera, and was responsible for skimming the casino's revenue and delivering the proceeds to Chicago. This, combined with poor management by the inexperienced Miami group, resulted in significant financial losses for the Riviera. A group of former Flamingo Hotel managers, led by Gus Greenbaum , soon took over operation of

1254-498: A nine-story hotel featuring 291 rooms. The Riviera was the first skyscraper in the Las Vegas Valley , and was the area's tallest building until 1956. Various hotel additions would be made in later years, including a 12-story tower in 1966, a 17-story tower in 1975, and a 24-story tower in 1988. By the time of its closure in 2015, the resort included a 103,800 sq ft (9,640 m ) casino and 2,075 rooms. In 1973,

1320-577: A professor at the College of Southern Nevada , the Riviera's "survival is one of the most interesting parts of its story, just because 50 years later it's still there and geographically it's on a part of the Strip that hasn't done as well as the part south of The Mirage ." Hal Rothman , a history professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas , said of the Riviera: "It never quite had the pizzazz of

1386-468: A result, the agency put 10 acres of the Riviera site up for sale in 2019. The land is located along the Strip, at the southeast corner of Elvis Presley Boulevard. In 2021, an agreement was reached to sell the property to Claudio Fischer, a Chilean real estate developer who had built several casino resorts in South America. Fischer would purchase the site for $ 120 million, and intended to build

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1452-589: A year for his show Divas Las Vegas and is worth over $ 20 million. He was called the "Entertainer of the Century" by Las Vegas Today Magazine . In 2018 he appeared in ITV's Last Laugh in Vegas . Marino currently resides in Las Vegas. In late 2004, Marino, his birth mother Mary Mastrangelo, and his then-longtime partner's mother Malka Schechter were filmed for a feature for Plastic Surgery: Before and After , having

1518-495: Is an American female impersonator dubbed "Ms. Las Vegas" for his longtime starring role as Joan Rivers in the Las Vegas drag revue Frank Marino's Divas Las Vegas , which played at The Linq (formerly known as Imperial Palace and The Quad) on the Las Vegas Strip until June 2018. In July 2021 Marino was called "the undisputed Queen of Las Vegas and the world's most successful tribute artist" by Las Vegas Today Magazine . Famous for his lavish on-stage wardrobe (much of which

1584-534: Is expected to close by November 2024. The property and several of its facilities, such as the Monaco tower, were named in reference to the French Riviera , but the theme did not extend to the resort's architectural design. The Riviera originally opened with a nine-story hotel tower, and a connected two-story structure which extended south of it, for a total of 291 rooms. It was the first skyscraper in

1650-559: The Discovery Health Channel series Plastic Surgery: Before and After , once held the unofficial record for the longest continuous performance run at a single casino in Las Vegas when he played Rivers for more than 20 years at the Riviera Hotel and Casino in the long-running drag show An Evening at La Cage ; according to his website, he now holds the record as the longest-active and longest-running headliner on

1716-500: The Golden Gate . Petitions to save the Riviera were launched via Change.org and with the county, although these efforts were ultimately unsuccessful. Architecture critic Alan Hess was among those in favor of preservation, suggesting that portions of the resort be incorporated into the redevelopment project. Kristen Peterson of Las Vegas Weekly lamented the Riviera's closure, noting its historic status and design features such as "tiered chandeliers, excessive mirror-paneling and

1782-465: The Las Vegas Valley , and was the area's tallest building until the opening of the Fremont Hotel and Casino in 1956. Several hotel expansions would take place in the decades to come. The first expansion was announced in 1959. Designed by Los Angeles architect Welton Beckett , the project included 114 new rooms, added through a six-story addition built atop the two-story structure. It

1848-705: The Sands with the Rat Pack . There was never a moment when it was a signature property. It was a good, solid hotel, but it was never the leader of the pack." The Riviera began targeting customers disappointed by the closure of nearby casinos, such as the Westward Ho in 2005, and the Stardust in 2006. However, the closure of these properties, and that of the New Frontier in 2007, further reduced visitation to

1914-468: The 26-acre (11 ha) Riviera, at a cost of $ 191 million. The agency had plans to demolish the resort for a major expansion of its nearby Las Vegas Convention Center . The Riviera closed on May 4, 2015, and demolition was underway a year later. The 24-story tower was imploded on June 14, 2016, followed by the 12- and 17-story towers on August 16, 2016. The LVCVA's plans for the property changed after it acquired other nearby acreage. The new convention space

1980-407: The LVCVA acquiring the Riviera. The resort had 1,000 employees. The Riviera closed shortly after 12:00 p.m. on May 4, 2015, two weeks following its 60th anniversary. An on-site liquidation sale began later that month, with more than 1 million items available for purchase. Some of the Riviera's slot machines were sold to Stevens, who placed them in his two downtown properties: The D and

2046-681: The Riviera bought back his shares. In 1973, the Riviera was purchased for $ 60 million by AITS Inc., a Boston-based travel company controlled by Meshulam Riklis and Isidore Becker. Riklis was majority owner, while Becker would later serve as president of the property. A 17-story tower was added in 1975. The Riviera eventually suffered financial problems in part because of the early 1980s recession , and also due to competition from new casinos in Atlantic City , where gambling had been legalized . The property filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 1983. Riklis pledged money to keep

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2112-409: The Riviera in 1997. The 10,000 sq ft (930 m ) area had more than 300 slots, most of them nickel machines. The sportsbook was remodeled in 2011, and included the addition of a walk-up betting window along the Strip. The casino also added bingo to set it apart from other resorts on the Strip, an area where the game had been absent since 2007. New slot machines were also added, and

2178-417: The Riviera in operation, and replaced Becker with Jeffrey Silver to turn the business around. Silver began shifting the Riviera's marketing focus away from high rollers , and towards middle- and working-class gamblers. The property emerged from bankruptcy in 1985. The Riviera underwent an expansion from 1988 to 1990, which included a neon billboard facade along the Strip. The resort was evacuated when

2244-472: The Riviera site, announced in June 2024 that it would purchase 5 of the 10 acres, with Torino and Kanavos retaining the western half that fronts the Strip. Fontainebleau would pay $ 112.5 million for the east half, to be used for future development. On their portion of the land, Torino and Kanavos have considered a retail and entertainment complex, possibly with a non-gaming hotel. The LVCVA's sale of both parcels

2310-524: The Riviera was sold to businessman Meshulam Riklis , who owned it for the next two decades. The Riviera filed for bankruptcy in 1983, and targeted a middle-class demographic from that point on, which helped the property thrive. Changes included the addition of a Burger King in 1984, making the Riviera the first Strip property to feature a fast-food restaurant. The Riviera emerged from bankruptcy in 1985, but filed again in 1991, amid an expansion project which went over budget. The property emerged in 1993, under

2376-414: The Riviera, but backed out of the deal a year later, stating that adequate financial information had not been disclosed. Riviera Holdings sued him in response, and the case was settled in 1999. Despite its age and financial problems, the Riviera would remain popular as a middle-class property through the 2000s, especially in contrast to newer megaresorts being built on the Strip. Riviera Holdings opened

2442-493: The Riviera, leasing it from the ownership group. Greenbaum had recently retired, and it was widely suspected that he was coerced to return to work by threats from Chicago mob boss Tony Accardo . Among Greenbaum's staff was entertainment director William Nelson, who was soon discovered to be mob informer Willie Bioff , leading to his murder in November 1955. Greenbaum's drug and gambling addictions led to his embezzling from

2508-509: The Strip. In 2010, Marino moved his show to the Imperial Palace Hotel and Casino, and renamed it "Frank Marino's Divas Las Vegas". He has appeared both as his Joan Rivers persona and as himself in several movies and TV shows. Once sued by Rivers for $ 5,000,000 (US) in the 1980s, the pair later reconciled and appeared on TV shows together. Marino is the highest-paid female impersonator in the world bringing in over $ 2.5 million

2574-498: The asbestos. The tower's interior also needed to be cleared of asbestos. This removal process increased demolition costs by $ 5 million, putting the total at more than $ 40 million. The second implosion took place on August 16, 2016, at 2:30 a.m. It was a low-key event, conducted with no fanfare and attracting a few hundred spectators. In its final years, the Riviera occupied 26 acres (11 ha), extending east from Las Vegas Boulevard to Paradise Road. By November 2016,

2640-416: The casino. In December 1958, he and his wife were murdered in their Phoenix, Arizona home, reportedly on the orders of either Meyer Lansky or Accardo. Ben Goffstein took Greenbaum's place as president. In 1960, the Riviera purchased a 15-percent interest held by the estate of Greenbaum, which retained a 17-percent stake after the sale. The estate's remaining interest was bought a year later. Sid Wyman ,

2706-496: The convention center "would be very beneficial to the neighborhood." In response to the petition efforts, the LVCVA noted an economic impact analysis which found that a failure to demolish the Riviera would cost the local economy $ 15 billion over a 30-year period. The LVCVA had initially hoped to have the Riviera demolished during 2015, although time had to be spent testing for hazardous construction materials such as asbestos . The demolition process began on April 18, 2016, with

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2772-646: The earliest hotel towers; the 1955 building was the oldest resort structure on the Strip. The second implosion covered several structures: the 17-story Monte Carlo Tower, the 12-story Mediterranean South tower, and the billboard facade. Asbestos had been discovered in the Monte Carlo Tower, which made its demolition more difficult than that of the Monaco Tower. Before being imploded, the building had to be wrapped in plastic, allowing workers to safely chisel away its stucco exterior without spreading

2838-414: The following year through a deal with Sternlicht and other investors. His company, Starwood Capital Group , gained a 75-percent interest in Riviera Holdings, while local casino owner Derek Stevens owned 21 percent. Following Starwood's takeover, prospective buyers continued to look at the Riviera, but were turned off by the amount of money needed to renovate it in line with modern resorts. David A. Siegel

2904-491: The new ownership of Riviera Holdings Corporation . The property's convention space was expanded in the late 1990s, which helped keep the resort profitable. The Riviera was also host to a variety of live entertainment, including female impersonator Frank Marino (1985–2009) and a topless revue known as Crazy Girls (1987–2015). In February 2015, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) purchased

2970-528: The northern Strip. The Riviera was expected to benefit from two nearby projects, Echelon Place and Fontainebleau Las Vegas , but construction on both had been suspended by the end of 2009, due to the Great Recession . Visitation to the area was further reduced a few years later, following the temporary closure of the Sahara . Riviera Holdings filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2010, and emerged

3036-457: The offer, after an acquisition company affiliated with BT Holdings LLC of Boston, Massachusetts made an offer of $ 20 a share. [1] Facing losses from the recession, Riviera began defaulting on its debt in February 2009. In July 2010, Riviera filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, listing $ 275 million in debt. A reorganization plan led by Starwood Capital Group enabled the Riviera properties to remain open for business. Starwood emerged with

3102-533: The poker room was updated as well. In its final years, the total gaming space measured 103,800 sq ft (9,640 m ), including the 12,000 sq ft (1,100 m ) sportsbook. The casino had nearly 1,000 slot machines during that time. The Riviera featured various dining options, including the Ristorante Italiano, added in 1977. Another restaurant, Kady's Coffee Shop, was named after Riklis' daughter and opened in 1986. While Silver

3168-505: The property: "At the risk of sounding crass, everyone is so upset and distraught about it being torn down, but I think it should have been imploded awhile ago. Either imploded or refurbished. This is not to negate all the memories and all the wonderful stuff that was there, but it just lived too long in a way." Jim Murren , the CEO of MGM Resorts , said that "the days of (the Riviera's) benefit to Las Vegas are long gone," stating that expansion of

3234-434: The rear of the property along Paradise Road, making way for the casino expansion. The circular billboard was added in 1989, and was accompanied by a block-long facade. Both of these faced the Strip, and consisted of mirrored panels and neon signage for various property features, such as restaurants and entertainment. The facade work was designed by Nikita Zukov, along with Marge Williams of Federal Sign. A steel sculpture

3300-531: The removal of hazardous materials. This was followed by demolition of various low-rise structures, which required the use of excavators . Consideration had been given to retaining the Riviera's parking garages, but it was later determined that keeping them would not be beneficial, due to their locations on the site. After demolition started, contaminated soil was discovered on the property's north side, near four underground diesel fuel storage tanks. Nearly 10,000 tons of contaminated soil had to be removed. By

3366-511: The site had been paved over with a convention center parking lot, which also served as outdoor exhibition space. The convention center expansion, known as the West Hall, began construction in January 2018, occupying the eastern portion of the former Riviera land. Later that year, the LVCVA acquired other nearby acreage which would be used for parking and outdoor exhibits moving forward. As

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3432-404: The time of its closure, the Riviera had multiple hotel structures , including several ranging from 12 to 24 stories. Due to the sprawling layout of the Riviera's buildings, a two-phase implosion was scheduled months apart for several of the hotel towers. The implosion work was conducted by Controlled Demolition, Inc. , which handled previous implosions in Las Vegas. The 24-story Monaco Tower

3498-509: Was added in 1975. The 17-story project was designed by architect Martin Stern Jr. , with interior work by Yates and Silverman of Los Angeles. This addition later became known as the Monte Carlo Tower. Low-rise additions, known as the Lanai rooms, had been completed in 1962. These were designed by Julius Gabriele, and would later be replaced by two new towers. The six-story San Remo Tower

3564-516: Was added to the Riviera's northwest corner in the late 1990s, as part of the Nickel Town addition. The sculpture featured three steel poles pointed outward, resembling fountain water. The poles were covered in neon lighting and had an advertising screen wrapped around them. The sign along Paradise Road was removed in 2016, following the Riviera's closure. Neon letters from the billboard facade, spelling out "Riviera", were acquired by Will Durham,

3630-404: Was also rejected. A group of businessmen, including Barry Sternlicht and Neil Bluhm , agreed to buy into the company in 2005, with plans to renovate the Riviera. The buyout ultimately failed, as D. E. Shaw opposed the group's $ 426 million offer, finding it too low. In 2005, the Riviera celebrated its 50th anniversary, a rare milestone for Strip properties. According to Michael Green,

3696-442: Was among those who considered a purchase, but found the property to be "a dump," instead buying the nearby LVH resort. Various renovations were launched across the property and underway by 2012. Amid continued financial losses, Paragon Gaming was hired to take over casino operations in 2013, while Riviera Holdings remained as owner. In February 2013, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) announced plans for

3762-562: Was built on the Riviera's eastern portion, while 10 acres (4.0 ha) along the Strip were put up for sale in 2019. The Riviera was originally known as the Casa Blanca prior to the start of construction. It was proposed by a group of businessmen, mostly from Miami Beach , who applied for a gaming license in December 1952. Among the group members was William "Lefty Clark" Bischoff, who previously ran casino operations in Detroit. Bischoff

3828-477: Was constructed in 1977, by the Del E. Webb Corporation . The 24-story Monaco Tower opened in 1988, and featured 1,000 rooms. By the time of its closure, the Riviera had 2,075 rooms. The Riviera's casino originally opened with 116 slot machines. In 1990, it was expanded to the sidewalk along the Strip with a 70,000 sq ft (6,500 m ) addition, opened on the former parking lot. The property's gaming space

3894-422: Was designed by Bob Mackie , who has also done fashions for Rivers), Marino has received two Las Vegas Walk of Fame stars and received another star when Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman honored his hard work and commitment to the Las Vegas performance world with "Frank Marino Day" on February 1, 2005. Marino has been playing Joan Rivers in Las Vegas drag shows since 1985 and, according to his 2005 appearance on

3960-653: Was designed by Roy France and Son , an architecture firm based in Miami Beach, with J. Maher Weller as associate architect. The general contractor was Taylor Construction Company, also of Miami. The Riviera opened on April 20, 1955, and included a nine-story hotel tower . Its debut coincided with that of two other Strip resorts, the Dunes and the Royal Nevada , prompting concerns that Las Vegas had been overbuilt with hotels. Mob fixer Sidney Korshak played

4026-517: Was finished in 1960. These towers were extended further south with a 12-story addition, completed in 1966. The $ 6 million tower was designed by Harold W. Levitt with Ernest W. Le Duc and William H. Farwell as consulting architects. It added 220 rooms. The original tower and the two newer additions would become known, respectively, as the Mediterranean North and Mediterranean South towers. The $ 20 million East Tower, with 300 rooms,

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4092-467: Was imploded on June 14, 2016, at 2:37 a.m. Implosions have been popular events in Las Vegas since the 1990s, and the Monaco Tower marked the first resort implosion to occur on the Strip since the New Frontier in 2007. Dignitaries and many spectators came to view the implosion, which was preceded by a fireworks show. After the implosion, excavators were used to demolish the casino floor and

4158-471: Was increased to approximately 125,000 sq ft (11,600 m ), reputedly making it the largest casino in the world, although this figure was disputed by the new Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, which claimed to be the largest with 120,000 sq ft (11,000 m ). In continued efforts to attract a budget-conscious demographic, a casino addition known as Nickel Town was added to

4224-407: Was serving as chief executive in 1984, he added a Burger King franchise inside the Riviera, making it the first Strip resort to feature a fast food chain outlet; this move inspired the phrase "Burger King Revolution" to refer to the broader trend of Las Vegas casinos catering to middle-class customers. Other fast-food options were added in a food court addition, opened in 1990. The resort also had

4290-629: Was submitted to the Nevada Tax Commission in July 1953. The group, at that time, consisted of eight partners. Among them were brothers David and Myer Gensburg, and brothers Harpo and Gummo Marx . The group was granted a gaming license in September 1953. The Riviera was built along the northern Las Vegas Strip , at a cost of $ 8.5 million. Construction began in May 1954. The project

4356-502: Was to hold a 40-percent interest in the Casa Blanca. However, he had been identified a few years earlier, during the Kefauver Committee hearings, as having ties to organized crime. He subsequently withdrew his name from the group's license application. Two other investors, Miami contractor Julius Gaines and Hollywood producer Lewis Merman, also withdrew because of concern over their affiliation with Charles Tourine, who had

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