North suburban restaurant-goers will recognize the familiar face of Bruce Bertucci when they walk into the new North Shore Steak & Seafood when it opens Wednesday at The Temporary at American Place as the casino approaches its first anniversary in Waukegan.
Bertucci, who owned and operated Bertucci’s Italian Steakhouse in Highwood for 23 years until closing it in 2013, is a maitre d at the casino’s newest restaurant, putting three eateries at the west end of the gaming establishment.
“Now people can have a fine meal, go into the casino, pull levers and make some money,” said Jay Stephen, a Waukegan resident who was participating in a pre-opening event at the restaurant.
The Temporary at American Place celebrates its first anniversary in Waukegan on Saturday, offering customers entertainment and prizes as executives reminisce about the initial year of operation and look forward to the permanent hotel and casino they plan to build.
As Bertucci learned about a casino opening in Waukegan, he said he wanted to be a blackjack dealer. He went through the organization’s school for dealers, but then got a different offer.
“They said they had a job that was perfect for me, and offered me this,” he said. “This has been in my blood for 38 years. I love being around people, and I’m seeing a lot of familiar faces.”
Jeff Babinski, the vice president and general manager of the casino, said since the casino opened on Feb. 17 of last year, he has been pleased with its performance. Significant sums were spent getting The Temporary’s message to the community, and he is happy with the results.
In December, Babinski said the net gaming revenue — money wagered less winnings paid — was $8.2 million, the best month since opening. He said the highlight for him has been the team the company built.
“I’m very proud of the culture we’ve developed and we have in place,” he said. “It’s a culture we’re continuing to build. We’re still growing, and there’s a lot more we’re going to do.”
Alex Stolyar, the senior vice president and chief development officer for American Place owner Full House Resorts, said Tuesday he is pleased with the first year of performance.
“I’m glad we were able to do this for Waukegan,” he said. “This is something Waukegan has been trying to do for 20 years. We’re going to continue to increase our level of performance.”
With the opening of the steakhouse, the casino has everything it hoped to have in the temporary facility. The sports book operated by Circa Sports opened in the fall, and the high-end restaurant opens on Wednesday.
Babinski said North Shore Steak & Seafood will complement L’Americain, an American bistro, and Asia-Azteca offering Mexican and Asian food. It adds steaks from an 8 oz. tenderloin to a 24 oz. bone-in ribeye, as well as lobster and crab.
“This is something our premium players are looking for,” he said. “It’s a place where they can have quality food, and then play in the casino. We have 48 table games and 937 slots.”
North Shore Steak & Seafood also brings a high-end restaurant to Waukegan unlike others in the city. John Maguire, the community outreach and programs director for Visit Lake County, was at the eatery’s pre-opening event. He said he likes the addition.
“This is well worth the experience,” he said. “This may not be for everybody, but a lot of people in Lake County will benefit from it for a special occasion.”
When customers come to the casino on Saturday marking the first anniversary, they will be greeted by a circus theme, according to a press release from American Place. There will be $50,000 in cash prizes and circus acts around the casino.
Stolyar said he is also looking forward to progress resuming on the permanent hotel and casino. The project is on hold as a lawsuit filed by the Forest County Potawatomi Community against both the city of Waukegan and the Illinois Gaming Board is pending before the Illinois Supreme Court.
