Carmen's Hotel/Condo | ? | 44 fls | Proposed

[SteelTown]

Toronto failed to build the Canadian Music Hall of Fame again.

[Dr Awesomesauce]

Yeah, that would be a good fit for a Hard Rock Cafe or whatever.

Much like the casino (and the the CFL HOF for that matter) I'm not sure it would act as much of a magnet...
'Hey mummy, can we go to Hamilton to see the April Wine display at the hall of fame??'

[SteelTown]

Hard Rock to be partner in Mercanti casino

http://www.thespec.com/news/local/ar...ercanti-casino

The company behind the popular Hard Rock Cafe is partnering with the Mercanti family to develop a casino in Hamilton’s downtown.

The Hamilton Spectator has learned Orlando-based Hard Rock International will be part of the well-known family’s project to be formally unveiled Feb. 6 to city councillors.

While well-known for its rock and roll café establishments, the company is also in the hotel and casino business. It announced Jan. 13 a Hard Rock Hotel and Casino redevelopment project on the site of the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield, Mass.

It operates casinos in Biloxi, Mississippi; Hollywood, Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada; Macau, China; Tamp, Florida; Punta Cana, Dominican Republic; and Singapore.

P.J. Mercanti, the face of the casino project, could not be reached for comment Wednesday night. A spokesperson for Hard Rock could also not be reached.

Patriarch Peter Mercanti declined comment when approached by a Spectator reporter at a casino town hall meeting in Waterdown Wednesday night.

The Mercanti family operates the Carmen’s Banquet Centre and hotel on the east Mountain. They are set to takeover operation of the Hamilton Convention Centre this spring.

YourHamiltonBiz.com reported Wednesday the project calls for a 700,000-square-foot, $250 million complex. It said the casino would have up to 1,200 slot machines and table games and could generate up to $200 million in revenue each year.

The website also said it would include a 325 hotel rooms and 125 condominium units.

There is also mention of the facility housing the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and the CFL Hall of Fame.

P.J. Mercanit told councillors this week the presentation to councillors is “definitely going to make as big a splash as possible” and that “the majority of Hamiltonians will also be delighted, as well.”

The delegation request stated the facility could include a hotel, gaming, a restaurant, night life, live shows, luxury retail and a museum.

“I would not be supportive of a stand-alone gaming facility,” Mercanti said. “The conversation will change from casino to entertainment destination. And that’s an important message that we plan to communicate. This is about creating an entertainment zone.”

[Dr Awesomesauce]

I don't want a casino but...

If this project is, as has been suggested in this article, a higher-end type deal (Hard Rock, hotel, museums, etc.) then perhaps it won't have quite as deleterious an effect on the downtown as I'd thought. Is that possible or am I delusional? Part of my concern is having a shite little casino plopped down a la Thunder Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, or the like. If it's the real deal, with tables and proper entertainment, then it could be a draw.

I'm still not convinced, though. Oh yeah, and I hate the Hard Rock - so bloody phoney.

[durandy]

a hard rock casino run by the Mercantis? I can't think of anything worse. Remember when they wanted to create the "W" Best Western hotel? These are grandstanding caterers whose pride and joy is bringing Al Pacino to Hamilton. I have no doubt the love Council has for them is because they all got to meet Stallone on his last trip. You stay classy, Hamilton.

[movingtohamilton]

Originally Posted by durandy

a hard rock casino run by the Mercantis? I can't think of anything worse. Remember when they wanted to create the "W" Best Western hotel? These are grandstanding caterers whose pride and joy is bringing Al Pacino to Hamilton. I have no doubt the love Council has for them is because they all got to meet Stallone on his last trip. You stay classy, Hamilton.

Stallone, Hard Rock Cafe, Pacino, Bella Towers....Hamilton has the 70's/80's vibe. And of course Toby's Good Eats, a primo '80's restaurant and one of two left in the entire world.

Maybe the wayback machine needs to go even further back. We could get the new casino to be run by mobsters, like Vegas used to be.

[bluevue]

Originally Posted by durandy

a hard rock casino run by the Mercantis? I can't think of anything worse. Remember when they wanted to create the "W" Best Western hotel? These are grandstanding caterers whose pride and joy is bringing Al Pacino to Hamilton. I have no doubt the love Council has for them is because they all got to meet Stallone on his last trip. You stay classy, Hamilton.

You do know they built the W Hotel right....its actually a great spot. Best Hotel in the city.

[durandy]

I didn't know they kept the 'W' branding. God it's tacky. Everything about the Mercantis is like an effort to recreate a bad reality tv show. Keeping up with the Mercantis - cocktail hour at 6.

[oldcoote]

Originally Posted by bluevue

You do know they built the W Hotel right....its actually a great spot. Best Hotel in the city.

That doesn't say much.

[thomax]

The Mercanti's Best Western hotel is called The C Hotel, not The W Hotel. Maybe everyone got it mixed up with the W Lofts downtown? lol - C Hotel Website

[markbarbera]

As MeIsThomas pointed out in his post, the hotel run by the Mercanti's up on the mountain is branded as the C Hotel.

W Hotel is a chain of boutique hotels under the Starwood banner. There isn't a W Hotel in Hamilton.

[bluevue]

Originally Posted by markbarbera

As MeIsThomas pointed out in his post, the hotel run by the Mercanti's up on the mountain is branded as the C Hotel.

W Hotel is a chain of boutique hotels under the Starwood banner. There isn't a W Hotel in Hamilton.

Yes. Thanks for that clarification. My oversight. It is a nice hotel, and nicest in the city, which indeed isn't saying much, but they have upped the ante in a city that has needed it badly for a long time..as well as putting it in a badly needed location.

[fizzle]

That is the most bush league PowerPoint presentation I've ever seen. That's actually what was presented?

Someone else put it best- these guys are delusional and looking for handouts to establish themselves as something more than the caterers they are. Proceed with caution Hamilton.

[thomax]

I edited the renderings to make them larger so more details can be seen:







Condo Tower with Infinity Pool:


Retail Shop and Lobby Area:


Source

[Dr Awesomesauce]

Michael, Fredo and Sonny would be proud. Oh yeah, and let's not forget Tom and Connie. The whole damn familia.

[CaptainKirk]

Is there any scuttlebut regarding Mercanti's downtown hotel ?

[SteelTown]

Don't believe OLG has started the RFP process for a casino in the Hamilton area yet.

[LikeHamilton]

Carmen’s hotel one of the best; now will build in core

Hamilton Spectator By Steve Arnold Jan 31, 2015

A Hamilton boutique hotel has been named one of the top 10 hotels in Canada by travel website TripAdvisor.

The Best Western Premier C Hotel by Carmen's, was also named the second-best hotel in Ontario, one slot behind Donald Trump's palace in Toronto.

"For us, this is a real honour and a dream come true because there were so many skeptics at the beginning," said Carmen's president Peter Mercanti. "It's especially nice to be so near Trump, who always charges exorbitant amounts of money for a room."

The TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice 25 Top Hotels in Canada awards are based on reviews by guests of the hotels posted on the TripAdvisor website in addition to its ranking on TripAdvisor's Popularity Index. The index determines traveller satisfaction based on hotel reviews, travel articles and online opinions.

"It is an honour for us to put Hamilton on the map as a travel destination," said hotel president Joe Mercanti in a news release. "We take great pride in being rated as a top hotel by such a highly regarded travel site. We work diligently to bring our guests a unique experience with excellent quality and service, it has always been our goal and mission to deliver the best boutique hotel experience in Canada."

The award comes after Carmen's received its second consecutive TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence awarded to the top 10 per cent of inns that consistently achieve outstanding traveller reviews.

Of 408 reviews on the TripAdvisor website on Friday, 344 rated Carmen's excellent. Another 48 ranked the hotel as very good.

The 52-room Carmen's hotel is on Stone Church Road East just off the Red Hill Valley Parkway. It opened in 2011.

The Carmen's group also operates the Hamilton Convention Centre under a deal with the city. Part of that deal included a commitment to build a new hotel in the downtown core, something Mercanti said he intends to move on starting in February.

"We have operating a hotel down pretty good now," he said. "We promised to pursue a downtown location when we took over the convention centre and now we are looking at several locations that offer the opportunity to achieve what we promised.

"It's going to be at the top of my personal to-do list starting next month," he added.

Mercanti said part of the decision to move on a downtown location is a real sense of momentum behind the core's revival.

"We sense a real momentum downtown now with work starting on the Connaught and other projects," he said. "It's finally happening and we are going to add to that mix."

Also driving his decision, Mercanti said, is the feeling his sons Joe and P.J. can manage the group's banquet centre and hotel without his direct day-to-day involvement "but with daddy still close by."


sarnold@thespec.com

905-526-3496 | @arnoldatTheSpec

[CaptainKirk]

Team up with the Frisinas and use the old Kresge's location.

[interr0bangr]

Hamilton Grand site or use one of the Beasley parking lots please.