El Cortez Hotel & Casino unveils $20 million expansion in downtown Las Vegas

The historic El Cortez Hotel & Casino in downtown Las Vegas celebrated the completion of a $20 million expansion project and reopening of the casino on Thursday, unveiling new gaming, dining, and entertainment spaces.

The 10,000-square-foot expansion introduces two new bars, Showbar and Roulette Bar, a high-limit slots area, an expanded table games section, and a new noodle restaurant, Hot Noods by Chinglish. A Starbucks coffee shop was also added to the property.

El Cortez CEO Kenny Epstein, 83, expressed his enthusiasm during the ribbon-cutting ceremony. “I feel great because people like it. If they didn’t like it, then I’d be worried. But everybody likes it, and people are happy,” he said.

The event featured speeches from top El Cortez executives, including CFO Joe Woody, who called the expansion “the best project we’ve done, by far.” General Manager Adam Wiesberg described the newly opened space as “magical,” emphasizing the energy and excitement it has brought to the property.

Las Vegas Mayor Shelley Berkley formally declared February 20 as “El Cortez Hotel & Casino Day” in recognition of the venue’s longstanding contribution to the city. “The El Cortez is as much a part of Las Vegas as any hotel I can remember,” Berkley said. “You have helped to make Las Vegas great because you are great.”

Notable attendees included Michael Gaughan, owner of South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa; Tito Tiberti, former president of J.A. Tiberti Construction; and Nancy Houssels, co-founder of Nevada Ballet Theater.

The expansion was led by McCarthy Building Companies, JIVE Architecture, YESCO, and Kenneth Ussenko Design, in coordination with IKE Gaming, Inc. The El Cortez, which first opened in 1941, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2013 and remains the longest continuously operating casino in Las Vegas.

As the casino moves into a new era while preserving its vintage charm, executives hinted at more developments to come. “Because of the El Cortez’s reputation and authenticity and history, people who already love the place see this new space and it’s an emotional experience for them,” Wiesberg noted.