Business & Tech

Will Milford Casino be Good For Existing Businesses? Owners Disagree

Businesses who support it say it will put more people into their establishments. Other businesses say it will have an unfair advantage because it will offer free food and drinks, and remain open at all hours.

If a nearly $1 billion resort casino development takes root off I-495, will people still take their families out to eat at local pizza shops? Will they book an event at PiNZ? Will they favor the hair salons at the resort, or make the trek as they do now to Milford businesses?

Owners of businesses in and around Milford are trying to figure out what kind of an impact the casino will have on them. 

Some owners are sure it will hurt their business, by siphoning away customers or making the traffic congestion worse, preventing existing customers from reaching them.

Others say the jobs created by the development will put more disposable income in the hands of existing customers, who may find better employment at the casino. Or they expect that at least some of the casino patrons and employees will cross I-495 and spend their money in Milford.

"I'm 100 percent behind it," said Louis Cheschi, owner of Caffe Sorrento on Central Street. His customers, he said, will try it out, but will keep coming back to his restaurant for the food and what is familiar. "Are we all going to go try it? Absolutely." 

Casino representatives, meanwhile, say the casino will benefit local businesses. Under the draft host agreement, the casino will put $50,000 a year into vouchers to local businesses, to be distributed to frequent patrons through a loyalty or rewards program. It also has said it will try to prioritize $50 million a year of its biddable goods and services through local businesses.

The selectmen will begin discussing the preliminary agreement Monday, at the next board meeting.

So far, few businesses in town have publicly stated their support or opposition to the development. The Turtle Tavern has placed several signs in its windows fronting Main Street, supporting the casino. On Depot Street, PiNZ has placed two signs advocating a Casino-Free Milford.

Some business owners are reluctant to talk publicly about their position on the casino, worried about alienating customers who may feel differently. The Milford Area Chamber of Commerce tried to get a read on the business sentiment about the casino development this month. Only 15 of its members responded. 

The chamber, for its part, also decided not to take a position on the development.

Earlier, a casino opponent passed around a petition among Milford area businesses, and collected 27 signatures from business owners or managers who said they were opposed to the casino, because it would damage their operations. Many of the signers were the owners of restaurants and hair salons. 

James Quirk, owner of New England Steak and Seafood in Mendon, was one of the signers. He said the area's restaurants are mostly family-owned, and they will find it hard to compete when a large-scale casino can offer free food and drink to its customers, who are there to gamble.

"If you were going to get a free dinner at the casino, or spend your money here, what are you going to do?" he said.

Another one of the signatures was from Mac Med Salon owner Debbie MacDonald.

MacDonald, who owns two related shops on East Main Street, said she isn't worried about competing with the salons that may open in the resort. Based on the prices for services at salons in the Foxwoods Connecticut resort, she expects any salons at the Milford location will charge more than her services. But she's worried about the traffic it will put on Route 16.

Traffic is a problem already, she said, because her business relies on appointments, not pass-by traffic. And people cancel appointments, or are delayed, when they run into existing traffic on East Main Street.

"I feel like we're already too congested," MacDonald said. "Put it out where there's nothing else."

David Breen, the owner of PiNZ, also signed the petition against the casino. He said he expects the casino will compete against him on two fronts, his restaurant and bar, and his special events bookings.

PiNZ has an arcade, a bowling alley, and a bar and restaurant. The casino will have as many as 10 restaurants and lounges on full build-out, along with a ballroom, according to Foxwoods materials.

The operating hours could put it into direct competition with local businesses. The casino, by design, will be open 24-7. Under the gaming act, the casino will be allowed to offer patrons free food and drink on the gaming floor, although not in separate bars and restaurants. The gaming floor is expected to be open at all hours. The alcohol restrictions on serving hours will be determined by the state, not the town.

"It is what it is," said Breen. "I don't think it will put me out of business. There's no question we would have to [re-examine] our business plan."

The spillover traffic into the town, of casino visitors either going or coming from the resort, will probably not bring new business to PiNZ, he said. "I'm on the other side of town. I would have to say no."

Other restaurants or bars feel the casino will help business.

On Central Street, Caffe Sorrento has not placed any pro-casino signs on the property, but Cheschi feels strongly the casino will help the town, and his business. "I think it will be a great thing for the town, first, and for business, second," said Cheschi, who has owned the restaurant for 16 years.

Cheschi said the casino will employ more than 2,500 people. He was told by the Foxwoods Massachusetts development team that employees would not be eating or drinking in the casino establishments. They'll be heading into town for that, he said.

In addition, he said, the employment will help the area businesses because people will get jobs there, and will spend their money in Milford. "There's a lot of unemployed people and employed people in this town who will get hired at that casino."


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