Nearby businesses hope to benefit from Ainsworth Game Technology’s southwest Las Vegas location

By ROCIO HERNANDEZ VIEW STAFF WRITER

8 years ago

Models walk pass the Ainsworth Game Technology area during the Global Gaming Expo at the Las Vegas Sands Expo and Convention Center Sept. 29, 2016. Jeff Scheid/View Follow @jeffscheid

Len Ainsworth, founder and executive chairman of Ainsworth Game Technology, left, talks with Clark County Commissioner Steve Sisolak, center, and Gov. Brian Sandoval during grand opening ceremonies for the company’s new North American headquarters at 5800 Rafael Rivera Way on Sept. 30, 2016. Bill Hughes/View

Len Ainsworth, founder and executive chairman of Ainsworth Game Technology, background center, waits for a ribbon cutting to begin during grand opening ceremonies for the company’s new North American headquarters at 5800 Rafael Rivera Way on Sept. 30, 2016. Bill Hughes/View

The new North American headquarters for Ainsworth Game Technology is at 5800 Rafael Rivera Way near the 215 Beltway. Bill Hughes/View

A group of people waits to have a photo taken during grand opening ceremonies for the new North American headquarters of Ainsworth Game Technology at 5800 Rafael Rivera Way on Sept. 30, 2016. Bill Hughes/View

Michele Topol, the aunt of an Ainsworth executive, checks out some of the machines in the Ainsworth Game Technology showroom during grand opening ceremonies for the company’s new headquarters at 5800 Rafael Rivera Way on Sept. 30, 2016. Bill Hughes/View

Ainsworth slot machines in the showroom at 5800 Rafael Rivera Way. Richard Brian/View Follow @vegasphotograph

Ainsworth Director of Marketing Mike Trask demonstrates the King Kong of Skull Island slot machine in the showroom at 5800 Rafael Rivera Way. Richard Brian/View Follow @vegasphotograph

Development continues in the southwest as the Las Vegas Valley’s gaming corridor grows.

Ainsworth Game Technology, an Australia-based slot machine design and manufacturing company, broke ground on its new 291,000-square-foot U.S. headquarters at 5800 Rafael Rivera Way about two years ago. Its signature red “A” can be can be seen from the 215 Beltway. It celebrated its grand opening Sept. 28, joining nearby companies such as Scientific Games and Boyd Gaming.

The headquarters houses 200 employees, and Mike Trask, marketing director, said the company will look at hiring game developers, mathematicians, animators, software engineers, hardware engineers and other technical positions as game development begins.

Across the street, businesses are expecting to benefit from the traffic Ainsworth will bring.

Sierra Gold Tavern has been a southwest staple since 2005. Howard Stutz, vice president of corporate communications for Golden Entertainment Inc. — the company that owns Sierra Gold — said the tavern at 6515 S. Jones Blvd. is among the company’s most successful locations with a strong lunchtime and happy hour crowd.

“Having Ainsworth Gaming’s new American headquarters nearby adds to an already healthy customer base,” Stutz said.

Business owner Luiz Oliveira opened his second Sambalatte Torrefazione coffee shop location a couple doors down from Sierra Gold two years ago in anticipation of the neighborhood’s development.

Oliveira said the opening of Ainsworth hasn’t increased Sambalatte’s customer base by much, yet.

“I think the only problem for the area is the weekends and night time,” Oliviera said. “It’s not a destination. During business hours, business is strong. It’s like an office park. People go to work, and that’s when it becomes soft for everyone.”

Oliveira hopes that the opening of UFC’s global headquarters — which began construction in January off the Beltway near Jones — up the road from his coffee shop will bring the area more momentum.

UFC said in a news release that its headquarters is expected to open by March. The space will house nearly 400 employees and its new athlete health and performance center.

“We love the location, just the area needs to be developed for everybody to do great,” Oliviera said.

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To reach Southwest View intern reporter Rocio Hernandez, email rhernandez@viewnews.com or call 702-387-5233. Find her on Twitter: @rociohzz.