Gold themed casino observes ruby year

For 40 years, Jerry's Nugget has been keeping the toughest critics around coming back to its casino.

To glance at the Las Vegas Strip in all of its grandeur, it's difficult to imagine how much money and how many tourists circulate through the table games, slots and restaurants each day. But when an establishment's bread and butter lives but a few blocks away, they expect to be treated like VIPs every time they come in or they won't return.

Despite the boom of the Las Vegas Strip and the introduction of the megaresort, Jerry's Nugget has carved and held onto its niche as a totally local-driven casino.

First established in 1964 by Jerry Stamis and Jerry Lodge, the property then called the Town House Bar was purchased from owner Mordell Earl. The partners rebuilt the location as an 80-foot-by-80-foot casino that hosted a bar, restaurant, one craps table and 100 slots.

Over the years, the size of the property may have changed, but owner/general manager Peter DeMangus, nephew of the original owner, said the concept is still the same.

"Locals needed a place to go and a place to gamble," DeMangus said. "In terms of being a truly local place, there was us and one or two others, but we are one of the only ones that are not tourist driven at all. This was the first ever casino designed with locals in mind."

In 1968, the owners took over the nearby Bonanza Club, famous for the city's highest signage at the time. The addition of the space granted Jerry's Nugget 10,000 square feet more of casino space and the addition of a bingo hall that hosted 400.

Other expansions, coming every 15 years or so, happened only after careful deliberation. A major reconstruction took place in 1982 that added a race and sports book, an updated keno lounge, and approximately 700 slots, as well as additional parking facilities.

The most recent renovations happened in 1996 and added a state-of-the-art soundstage and the Magnolia Room, the property's first gourmet restaurant.

DeMangus said because the company hasn't borrowed any money from banks or investors to sustain itself or update its facility, all improvements are paid for by funds generated by the casino.

"We've always kept it in the family," he said. "For that reason, we've never gone (the way of borrowing). As the town has grown, we've grown, too. All of our capital improvements have been paid for, so we have no debt."

But since DeMangus has been in charge, he has added a fresh perspective to the business, and is planning to add several amenities that will give the casino more of an edge among competitors. His view of financial responsibility offers a new view of additions for the sake of progress.

"We're probably going to add about 200-250 rooms, " he said. "But where some large casinos on the Strip say they have boutique-style hotels, this will actually be one. It will maintain the quality that we have in the casino. We still want to provide a customer-driven, full service property."

Jerry's Nugget employs 465 people, and has determined its consistent core customer base to be more than 40,000, with about 88 percent of it being locals. DeMangus, who is chairman of the North Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, said the casino soon will host an Italian grille called Uncle Angelo's Pizza Joint that will offer another dining option to patrons.

But its original slot machines are still viewable in the casino's lobby, along with several historic photos of the property. DeMangus said although things will inevitably change, the owners' original plan still remains intact.

"What we have today is still the same vision they had in 1964," he said. "Quality and customer service are still most important."


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