Pizza, Thai chicken and deli sandwiches now are among the added culinary options for local gamblers following a $2 million renovation of the buffet and food court areas at Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack.
Racetrack officials unveiled the new facilities and food offerings to Wheeling's leaders Tuesday and announced they would be moving away from "island theme" promotion and decor at the facility.
"We're still keeping the name 'Wheeling Island,' but that theme is getting tired," said Jim Simms, president and general manager at the racetrack. "It was fun for a number of years."
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Photo by Joselyn King
David Burns, a line cook in the buffet area at Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack, shows the new Asian food station that has been added to the buffet. Track officials unveiled the new buffet and food court areas there Tuesday. The areas underwent a $2 million renovation during the past three months.
The extensive renovations took place over a period of three months and were made possible through legislation passed this year by state lawmakers.
Senate Bill 550 established the "Historic Resort Hotel Modernization Fund" - with the intent of allowing the state's four racetracks to reinvest in facilities and better compete with those in neighboring states. Under the bill, the tracks receive $1 back for every $2 they spend on upgrades. The money comes from video lottery tax dollars already paid by the tracks, but which previously went toward the administration of the West Virginia Lottery Commission.
The renovations to the buffet and food court areas were among the first improvements at the Wheeling Island racetrack.
"People told us they really enjoyed the buffet and, 'You really have a nice product - don't change it,'" Simms said. "We knew that especially for the price point, we had an outstanding buffet."
But a cosmetic upgrade of the buffet was warranted, he acknowledged, and additional food choices were considered.
"We believe we have the best buffet in the market," Simms said. "In our business, your buffet is your workhorse, and we think we've got a winner."
Patrons seeking the former Islander Buffet at the track will now see a new entrance - and above it a new large, lighted sign, welcoming them simply to "The Buffet."
Many of the same dishes that were part of the former dessert island, pasta island and Grilligan's Island meat areas have been worked into the new food stations that replaced the islands.
The American station, dessert station and soup and salad station now have been joined by two stations that offer new fare - the Italian station and the Asian station.
What isn't present at the dessert station at the new buffet is the chocolate fountain that was a highly visible part of the old buffet.
Kim Florence, racetrack spokeswoman, said the absence of the flowing chocolate can be attributed to the new green carpeting installed in the buffet area and track officials wanting to maintain it. The fountain may return at a future date, she added.
Those wishing to hold meetings at "The Buffet" will also have a place to do that, as a private room has been constructed at one end.
And "The Buffet" isn't the only area where track visitors can sample new food offerings. On the opposite side of the building, the former "Pirate's Cove" area has been transformed into a food court. Among the offerings there are pasta and pizza, a deli and a cookie and candy area.