Saks Fifth Avenue chain has finally confirmed that it is considering adding a casino to its flagship store on Fifth Avenue in New York.
Located between East 49th and East 50th, the luxury department store sent exclusive pictures of the casino to the New York Post.
The images show elegantly dressed guests seated at roulette tables, chic bars and upholstered chairs, cocktails in hand. You enter the building through a separate entrance on a red carpet that extends to the sidewalk and opens into a spacious lobby adorned with chandeliers and decorative rugs.
The casino would span three floors, starting from the ninth, where black-tie waiters will serve champagne flutes, according to Richard Baker, executive chairman and chief executive of HBC, the company that owns Saks.
“The Saks casino will attract tourists from all over the world and will not rob those who shouldn’t be in a casino,” Baker added.
“We’ve worked quietly with community groups, Broadway theaters, retailers and elected officials, and we have a lot of support for a different kind of casino in New York,” Baker said.
One motivation is that Fifth Avenue is in dire need of appeal. This increases the number of pedestrians on the iconic commercial street, especially at night when the shops close.
A casino will bring light, security and activity to the trade vein, Baker added.
The centuries-old store has competition, with at least five billionaires also vying for the project.
The Saks casino would be similar to that featured in the James Bond film Casino Royale, according to Baker.