Bay 101 Planning New Complex Closer to M8trix

M8trix was a dramatic improvement over Garden City Casino, bringing with it a tiny bit of Vegas to San Jose and a colorful new tower. Now it looks like Bay 101 is looking to not only looking to do a similar remodel but move much closer to their gaming neighbor. They purchased a 20-acre hotel at 1740 N. First and are planning a 87,000 SQFT card club with two attached hotels with a combined 470 rooms, retail space, an upscale restaurant, and a six-story parking structure. Note that while the card club would be 12,000 SQFT larger than their current home, the number of gambling tables would be the same since the limit is set by San Jose voters. The skyline would also benefit from the two modest hotel towers as one would be 9 stories and the other would be 10, and both would be visible from Highway 101 and probably 880.

The new plans will happen in phases (much like M8trix which is also planning a hotel tower and celebrity-chef restaurant) with the card room happening first, followed by the hotels and the parking structure. The location is really ideal for them: no residential neighbors, close to 101, close to the airport, and next to techies along North First. It also would open a development opportunity on the site of the old casino. Looks like a nice project!

Source: SVBJ

Casino M8trix is Open!

(Sans the 8th Floor)

Casino M8trix May Open Today!

Based on this YouTube video from last week, it looks like San Jose's long-awaited new Casino may actually be opening . It has been a long and complicated journey, but it looks like the doors will be swung wide open today open sans the penthouse gaming floor (boo). Even non-gamblers will be able to enjoy the 4 new restaurants--a couple of which should be open very late into the night--and of course the solid addition to our skyline. Of all the high-rises in San Jose at the moment, this is the one that I think best represents a "Silicon Valley" aesthetic.

For anyone that checks out M8trix, be sure to post your thoughts in the comments.



UPDATE: M8trix Ribbon Cutting is tomorrow at 8am, but it does open today at 10am.

M8trix Updates

M8trix is a new card room that is being built near Bay 101 and will be replacing Garden City Casino on Saratoga. Last week there was a Merc article with some additional tidbits on this $100 million project:

• Technology will be featured throughout the casino, including a 15ft LED chandelier and indoor lighting that can by changed on the fly.
• High-stakes card games will take place on the penthouse floor of the tower, with panoramic views of the South Bay.
• There will be a new bar in the gaming area, Asian noodle eatery, and a sports bar & grill. In total there will be 210 LCD TVs.
• The second phase of the project with an estimated completion in 2014 will cost over $120 million and feature a 220 foot high luxury hotel with up to 600 rooms and a four star restaurant.

That last tidbit has me particularly excited. San Jose is long overdue for a W or Westin Hotel, which the Merc mentioned. I remember there also being talks of a celebrity chef restaurant on top of the Phase 2 tower, but it was not mentioned in the article. Click here for more.