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Montelago Casino closing to impact Henderson business

The Montelago Casino will close its doors for good Sunday, March 14, 2010. This decision was made shortly after the Ritz Carlton Hotel announced it would lock up in May.

For businesses just down the road on Lake Mead Parkway, they look towards Sunday with dread.

"Unfortunately, with the way the economy is at this point and time, for smaller mom and pop shops, it really hurts," says Phil Grippaldi, a sales associate at Sunset Market Bait and Tackle.

It's sad for their sales as many of their customers are also casino patrons.

"They usually come from over there. Well, they come from all over, but a lot of them come from the casino. It's pretty sad  they're closing down," laments Ray Estrada, manager at the Water Station.

For local resident who enjoy having an Italian dinner at the local Montelago Village, they're worried about what the casino closing will do to the shopping.

"As long as the Montelago Village does a lot of advertising and we get some very good vibes from everybody, then I'm sure they'll do ok. It's a beautiful location," says local resident Monika Petersen.

While many of the residents out here are worried the closing of the casino will impact the number of visitors to the shops and the restaurants, the Montelago resort doesn't depend solely on the casino for its business.

"We have never been solely dependent on any of the surrounding entities. The Village drives its traffic through events. That's what we've done and will continue to do," says Maurice Talley of the Montelago Village.

Down the road, Henderson businesses hope they can stay afloat without the casino.