By Sarina Trangle
Less than three months after those pushing to authorize casino expansion in the state touted Resorts World as the epitome of the industry’s economic benefits, the South Ozone Park business closed its Aqueduct Buffet restaurant.
Resorts World shuttered Aqueduct Buffet, at 110-00 Rockaway Blvd., Monday. About 175 employees were informed of the decision and laid off early that morning, according to Kerri Lyon, a spokeswoman for the racino.
“We have made the difficult decision to close the Aqueduct Buffet because it never caught on with our customers and has consistently lost money since we opened two years ago,” Lyon wrote in an e-mail.
Laid-off workers may receive up to five weeks of severance pay depending on their position and length of employment. They will also be compensated for unused sick and vacation days and four months of family medical coverage.
State Sen. Joseph Addabbo Jr. (D-Howard Beach) said the Hotel and Motel Trades Council, which represents Resorts World staff, was trying to help the laid-off workers find jobs.
The Hotel and Motel Trades Council did not return requests for comment before press time.
Lyon said the buffet’s failure had nothing to do with Resorts World signing a new contract with the union in late October.
At the time, the union described the agreement as a “landmark” contract that “sets the standard for gaming employees statewide.”
The three-year contract raised the average hourly wage of 1,400 workers from $10.15 to $19.91 and included stipulations that would have a majority of employees making more than $60,000 annually by the end of the agreement, according to a union press release.
The release included quotes from state Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan) and upstate state Sen. John Bonacic (R-Mount Hope) using the contract to argue for casino expansion.
Addabbo said he did not agree with the decision to close the buffet and urged Resorts World President Edward Farrell to consider creating a new restaurant in its place.
“My request to Ed Farrell was, ‘Don’t do anything with the buffet site just yet… let’s see what we can do for food service there,’” Addabbo said
The senator said he suspected increases in the cost of a buffet plate over time, from about $25 to $40, deterred customers.
“I still see [Resorts World] as a job generator,” Addabbo said.
Reach reporter Sarina Trangle at 718-260-4546 or by e-mail at strangle@cnglocal.com.
