Legendary rocker Paul Stanley helped open a new slot room – and Rock & Brews brass renewed a promise for a hotel at the Braman casino – making for a festive Sunday along Interstate 35.
“Rock & Brews started 14 years ago. We have 25 of them,” the KISS frontman said of the restaurant chain he helped to launch. “This is the first one that we did in a casino and Ponca people you have made it what it is. And it is expanding because of success.”
The casino celebrated a new 80-machine slot room with a grand opening event and ribbon cutting. Adam Goldberg, CEO of Rock & Brews Restaurants, expects more expansion to come.
“We’re expanding now because of all of you, spending your time here, enjoying the Rock & Brews,” he told the crowd gathered outside for the ribbon cutting. “We really appreciate that and we’re going to continue to grow. With many new things that may happen out on some of these grass fields here, be able to bring you out, even stay overnight in the future. It will be really great. We’re going to do that.”
His comments in regard to overnight accommodations were met with cheers from those in attendance.
Plans for a hotel at the site were first floated several years ago when the Rock & Brews casino concept was launched in Braman but progress toward that goal has seemed to move slowly. Company officials said it could still happen if local support of the casino remains steady.
For now, expansion comes in the form of breezeway space converted into the 2,300-square-feet Rock And Roller Slot Room. That’s enough area for the 80 new class two slot machines. (Continue story below ads)
For all the celebrating of the new slot room, though, the real star of the day was Stanley. He worked an amped up crowd, even teasing that he might use the oversized ribbon cutting scissors to cut his rock star long hair.
“Noooooo,” several in the crowd yelled.
Fans of all ages, some with painted faces and many with KISS concert t-shirts, followed Stanley as he made his way inside, hoping for an autograph. He addressed the crowd briefly before heading into a VIP event following the ribbon cutting.
“Love ya all,” he said to the crowd.
The new slot room brought CEO Goldberg in from California, and he was joined by other top Rock & Brews, Kaw Nation and Kaw Gaming Inc. officials. Rock & Brews founder Michael Zislis was also on hand.
Ponca City-based Winterrowd Talley Architects helped to design this latest project.
Kaw Nation Tribal Council chairwoman Kim Jenkins said, just before the ribbon cutting, “we’re excited and can’t wait to get this going and open.”
