Kewadin Casinos turned 25 this week, and they did so in style. Beyond simply having a birthday pash, the company made donations to 25 different charities.
In addition, the casinos took time to reflect on just where it was they came from. It was only 25 years ago that Kewadin Casinos was a one-room blackjack house. From there, they have grown to be not only a tourist destination for the Upper Peninsula, but also a major economic force and job provider in the Upper Peninsula.
"Our success as a major Michigan employer and destination resort is attributed to the support, guidance and efforts of many people," says Kewadin Casino COO Tony Goetz. "Our 25th anniversary is a significant milestone that we proudly celebrate with our customers, community partners and employees."
As part of the 25th anniversary celebration on Nov. 6, Kewadin Casinos gave away $500 every 10 minutes at the Sault Ste. Marie casino to those in attendance. In addition, they also donated $500 to 25 individual charities throughout the U.P. that night.
The five Kewadin Casinos in Michigan's Upper Peninsula employ about 1,000 people and have an annual payroll of more than $25 million. When the first Kewadin Casino opened in November 1985, it was a one-room blackjack house with 80 employees in Sault Ste. Marie. Today the five casino properties have 500,000 square feet of facility space with 86,000 square feet earmarked for gaming space with 2,000 slot machines and 50 table games, seven restaurants and delis, two on-site hotels, a 25,000-square-foot convention facility, eight lounges and four gift shops.
Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Tony Goetz, Kewadin Casinos
Enjoy this story?
Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.