Published August 2002

Tulalip casino takes shape, to employ at least 1,250

By Shanti Hahler
Herald Writer

It’s going to be big, bold and to many a gambling eye, beautiful.

The new Tulalip casino being built in Quil Ceda Village just west of I-5 and north of the 88th Street NE exit has less than a year until opening day, and officials are looking toward a bright future.

“It’s going to be big, and there’s going to be lots of parking. It will be state-of-the-art, and will have an air system that is made so the building will be almost completely smoke-free,” said Chuck James, chief operator of the Tulalip casinos.

The $100 million casino, which broke ground in July 2001, will be more than four times larger than any other casino in the area. According to James, the interior will be decorated with a heritage theme and will offer 1,500 video slot machines, 49 table games and five restaurants, including buffet and fine-dining restaurants.

In the center of the building is a large dome in which a special sculpture will stand.

“The sculpture is of salmon, so it looks like the salmon are swimming to the sky, and the way it’s designed it looks like water. It will be the ‘Wow!’ when you walk in,” James said.

Marci Fryberg, assistant general manager for the Tulalip casinos, said that beyond the building itself, the employees will make up a big part of what the new casino is all about.

“One of the other things in the casino industry is the customer service aspect, and we have an extensive management and customer service training program for all our employees to go through so we can outdo the competition,” Fryberg said.

In addition, the new casino is expected to bring jobs for tribal members and the surrounding communities. James estimates there will be between 1,250 and 1,300 job openings.

Beyond the construction of the new casino, Quil Ceda Village will be adding new stores to its present Wal-Mart and Home Depot tenants, including an Applebee’s restaurant; a Burger King; a MailBoxes Etc.; a Bed, Bath and Beyond store; and a 500-room hotel.

According to James, a plan to add a high-end outlet mall to Quil Ceda Village is in the works as well.

Plans are also under way to develop an amusement park and water park, additions that are expected to attract as many as 14 million visits a year to the site, not counting shoppers at Wal-Mart and Home Depot, according to Greater Marysville Tulalip Chamber of Commerce President Caldie Rogers.

Snohomish County Business Journal Editor John Wolcott contributed to this story.

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