Supplier News

Canada – Gateway opens Grand Villa Edmonton

By Phil - 12 September 2016

Gateway Casinos has now opened Grand Villa Edmonton, its US$32m gaming and entertainment destination, in the ICE District of Edmonton.

Gateway’s newest property opened with 60,000 square feet of entertainment space, 24 gaming tables and 600 slots.

Grand Villa Edmonton will deliver entertainment redefined to the millions of visitors to Edmonton’s ICE District with more unique dining and entertainment experiences than any other venue in Edmonton. The property features Match Eatery & Public House with live entertainment, dining experiences in Atlas Steak + Fish. Grand Villa, Gateway’s most premium, high-end property brand, will be an addition to Edmonton’s vibrant and rejuvenated downtown.

The Grand Villa project was announced in spring 2015.
The project, which was completed on time and on budget, has contributed to the local economy through the use of local suppliers and purchasing during the construction period.

Given the major focus on elevating the customer experience through dining and entertainment, Gateway and Grand Villa Edmonton is excited to debut Executive Chef Shelley Robinson who will lead the culinary and entertainment team. Chef Robinson will oversee the casinos’ array of restaurants and dining options. A co-author of four cookbooks, Robinson has owned and operated two restaurants in Calgary and was a Canadian delegate for Slow Food Canada in Turin Italy. Most recently, she won the Food Network’s Chopped Canada and was a competitor on the Food Network’s Season Four ‎Top Chef Canada.

Over 600 community leaders and project partners celebrated the debut of the new casino before opening the doors to the public.

“Whether it’s celebrating an Oilers win, enjoying a night of entertainment and gambling with friends or partaking in the unparalleled wine and culinary experience at Atlas – we believe that Grand Villa will be the perfect complement to all of the other amazing amenities ICE District will offer,” Tony Santo, CEO, Gateway Casinos & Entertainment, said.

The Grand Villa Edmonton has brought up to 200 new permanent jobs as well as 450 person-years of construction employment. ICE District is the largest mixed-use sports and entertainment district in Canada and is already projecting an energy and feeling unlike anything Edmonton has seen before. It will host a new era of entertainment in the form of epic concerts, heart-stopping NHL and WHL hockey, blockbuster movies, world-class gaming, boutique shopping and trendy dining.