Eventually, Weaver’s youngest son got a job at the casino as an environmental specialist. Employees at the time were called cast members, a nod to MGM’s history in Hollywood, and she says the vibe in the early days was very much family-oriented. “It was really cool to see all the slot machines and it had that Vegas feel, but it also had a Hollywood feel, because we were dealing with MGM Grand.”Īfter much anticipation, the opening of the casinos - MGM and Motor City Casino opened in 1999, while Greektown Casino (now Hollywood Casino at Greektown) - felt like a new chapter for the city. “I remember when we opened up in ’99 at MGM, the line literally was around the corner, people were excited and waiting to get into doors,” says Weaver. She had previously been training to work as a dental surgical assistant, but the allure of getting in on the action in a brand new Detroit industry that would allow her to work with the public made applying for a casino job appealing. Its centerpiece was a beautiful marble soda counter, which was tragically pounded to pieces in 1972 during a misguided attempt at modernizing the historic structure.Alicia Weaver still remembers the excitement of her first day on the job as a guest room attendant at the MGM Grand Casino. The casino was one of the most popular attractions on the island. The current Casino, designed by Van Leyen & Schilling - not Albert Kahn, as often misattributed - continues the tradition of serving as a meeting place and event spot, hosting everything from fairs to weddings.

When the current structure opened in May 1908, the old one was demolished.

With the city’s fortunes and population both swelling, a decision was made to build a new, larger casino nearby. However, it was made entirely of wood, and after only two decades, was already showing its age. The city’s first stab at a casino was designed by the firm Donaldson & Meier, and offered Detroiters a place to rest, grab a bite to eat or seek shelter from nasty weather. There was no gambling in this type of casino, which relies more on the traditional definition of the word, meaning a building used for meetings, entertainment, dancing and the like.

One of the first structures built on Belle Isle after it became a park was the first Belle Isle Casino, opening in June 1887.

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