The Brown & White

The Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem may provide an opportunity for local businesses to improve their bottom line in the struggling economy and provide job opportunities for local residents.

The casino, located on Route 412 on the South Side, is set to open May 22. The casino will house 3,000 slot machines and electronic table games, 300 hotel rooms, 40 upscale stores, eight restaurants and four nightclubs.

The casino and its accompanying businesses need a lot of full-time employees, and many in the Lehigh Valley have taken advantage of the job opportunities. This is welcome news, since the unemployment rate hit 8.5 percent in March, the highest level since 1983, according to the United States Department of Labor.

"The positive impact of the Sands Bethlehem is already being felt across the region as we continue to hire the more than 1,000 employees we need to operate the property," Sands Bethlehem President Robert DeSalvio said in a statement.

Ron Reese, the media director for the Las Vegas Sands Corp., said the casino will boost the local economy in many ways.

"For one thing, it's going to attract millions of visitors to the area annually," he said. "Those people are going to have a variety of needs, whether it's filling up on gas to drive back to wherever they came from or stopping for a sandwich."

Reese also said that the casino itself will need local businesses to provide certain services, which could be anything from dry cleaning to computer equipment.

"When the time comes for the hotel to open with the retail stores and additional restaurants, each incremental piece of business is going to mean more opportunities for local businesses to provide their services," he said.

One business that has already felt the impact of the casino opening is Woodmont Properties, which owns the luxury apartment community Woodmont Mews, located in Bethlehem.

"We've seen a significant number of people living at Woodmont Mews who are working at the casino," Woodmont Properties President Lewis Zlotnick said.

The company was aware of the casino's arrival and took steps to prepare for new resident influx. Woodmont Mews reached out to the Sands Bethlehem's human resources department and told them it would provide some preferred status to the employees of the casino. Sixteen Woodmont Mews residents are working at the casino.

Zlotnick said he does not believe the economic downturn will have a major effect on the apartment complex. Typically, apartment communities do well when the housing market is down, and business is still moving into the Lehigh Valley and creating jobs, he said.

"All throughout the year we saw a steady increase month by month in the number of renters because of the lack of options in home ownership," he said.

Reese said he does not see the economic conditions as a threat to business success. In fact, he believes they will have a positive impact on the casino.

"People might be a little more reluctant in these current economic times to fly to Las Vegas or spend a long weekend in Atlantic City," he said.

Instead, they might want to head to the Sands Bethlehem for some casino entertainment for a few hours and eat at Emeril's Chop House or hang out in the lounge, Reese said.

Emeril's Chop House was recently announced as world famous Chef Emeril Lagasse's first restaurant in the Northeast.

"We're excited to open our first restaurant in the Northeast in a great city like Bethlehem, especially at this historic property that has always been a symbol of the city's industry and culture," Lagasse said in a press release.

Reese said Sands Bethlehem's location is ideal because it is close to both New York and Philadelphia.

"It's a perfect candidate as a driving destination folks can get to quickly and easily and not have to pay for airfare or even overnight hotel accommodation," he said.

The Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem is set to hold its official grand opening with a series of special events on June 9.