Downtown’s Golden Gate completes $15 million renovation

As Frank Hooker walks through the casino floor at the Golden Gate, he spots an old friend, the hotel's co-owner and president, Mark Brandenburg.

The men stop and exchange greetings. Then Hooker hands Brandenburg a gold collectible coin, something he's done on every visit to the downtown institution for 20 years.

Hooker, 78, has stayed at the hotel at 1 Fremont St. since the early '90s, but this time, the place is looking a little different.

For the first time since it opened in 1906, the Golden Gate has a porte cochere to safeguard guests from the elements while handing over their car keys to a valet. The new entrance also features a revolving door, giving customers just a hint of the many changes that await them inside.

This week, the property completed its almost
$15 million expansion and renovation project that included a new 35,000-square-foot, five-story luxury tower with 14 hotel suites and two penthouses that encompass the entire fifth floor, bringing the property's hotel room total to 122. The suites pair elements of Old Vegas, such as photos of the Rat Pack, with new technology such as the Keurig coffee makers in each suite.

The 1,600-square-foot penthouses salute the Vegas showgirl and feature black-and-white photos of classic dancers on the walls, while the carpet design is a spray of golden feathers on top of a black background. The dining table transforms into a poker table, and the two-room penthouse also has an outdoor patio complete with a barbecue, fireplace, sofa and table.

A new lobby features two golden velvet chaise longues and a neon "Hotel" sign that once hung outside the property but now hangs behind the front desk.

For Brandenburg, maintaining the history of the hotel while freshening up the joint was important.

"We like the juxtaposition of the old and the new," he said. "It really made me happy. It wasn't easy to blend those two goals."

Throughout the renovated Golden Gate visitors can see historical items married with the new designs.

For example, a photo in the lobby depicting 13 of the hotel's 15 original partners pays homage to the past, while the new wood flooring gives the property a fresh feel. Black-and-white photos of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. hang on the casino's walls, and new carpet covered with art deco letter G's supports the feet of blackjack dealers and gamblers.

The deli is gone, but Du-par's remains and will serve the Golden Gate's famous shrimp cocktails until Brandenburg introduces the dish at another shrimp bar next year.

Longtime guest Hooker said he misses the deli, but so far, liked the other changes.

"It's very impressive," Hooker added.

He was just beginning an eight-day stay at the Golden Gate, and Hooker said he always recommends the hotel to his friends back home in Toronto.

"It suits my lifestyle," he said.

Hooker said the employees at the Golden Gate and the personalized service are the main reasons he's been coming back to the property for 20 years.

Although the hotel still is attracting its loyal clientele, Brandenburg said he's also noticed an uptick in younger guests, those in their 20s and 30s. Future room reservations are up and gaming revenue is up since the hotel revealed its new gaming floor, with 20 tables and about 330 slots, earlier this year.

"It's been dramatic," Brandenburg said.

Earlier this year, Golden Gate unveiled its new high-limit area with three blackjack tables that accept maximum bets of $5,000 a hand. Before, $300 was the max bet on blackjack. The hotel also began offering casino credit three months ago.

With the renovations and expansions finished, Brandenburg said he's happy with the changes.

"I think we absolutely succeeded," Brandenburg said.