Rowland: Casino expands gaming, parking

By Marijke Rowland
mrowland@modbee.com

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More parking, more gaming, less smoke.

Earlier this month the Black Oak Casino unveiled its new 1,000-space parking garage and larger smoke-free gaming area.

The six-level parking garage doubles the Tuolumne casino's parking capacity.

Glass elevators take guests from all levels of the garage to the Skywalk Gaming Area, which connects to the main gaming floor.

The Skywalk is a 15,000-square-foot nonsmoking wing. It has a six-table poker room, new slot tournament area and the Jumping Coyote Espresso and Coffee Bar.

Construction on the project took nearly a year.

The changes also have created a first-floor entrance to the casino's family entertainment center, which includes bowling lanes, arcades and two restaurants. Before, families had to go through the casino to access the area.

"The response has been really positive," said Al O'Brien, Black Oak Casino marketing and entertainment manager. "This is something we've been planning for a long time. The tribe has made a commitment to this knowing we needed to improve our arrival and parking, and give us room for future expansion."

The parking garage at the back of the casino creates space in front for a potential expansion and the future addition of a hotel, O'Brien said.

For more, go to www.blackoakcasino.com or call 877-747-8777.

Elsewhere around the Business Beat:

Wedding Center USA now has more ways to make your big day even bigger.

The locally owned bridal shop has moved and expanded its services. Formerly on Scenic Drive, the shop is now at 1209 McHenry Ave., Suite B, next to Skip's Music.

The move more than doubles the store's space, from 2,500 square feet to 5,800 square feet. It also allows the owners to increase their inventory.

The store carries hundreds of wedding gowns, bridesmaid dresses, mens and boys formal wear, accessories and more.

Wedding Center USA has added a banquet room in the back of the store that can be rented for parties, receptions and meetings.

The move also allows the shop, now in its sixth year, to start selling inventory through its Web site, http://weddingcenterusa.com.

The center has a print shop, on-site photographer and Spanish-language services. It is open from 2 to 8 p.m. Monday, from 12 to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and from 12 to 6 p.m. Sunday. For more, call 521-5600. ...

And finally, the first of two planned Rabobank branches has opened in Modesto.

The branch is at 1400 Standiford Ave., west of Tully Road. Another branch in downtown Modesto, at I and 14th streets, will open in August.

The central coast-based company has 87 branches throughout the state, from Roseville to the Imperial Valley. Already this year it has opened branches in Los Banos, Merced, Turlock and Atwater.

The Standiford Avenue branch will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday. The location will feature three teller windows, a drive-up ATM and a night depository.

To contact the branch, call 576-2599.

Have an item for Business Beat? Contact Marijke Rowland at The Modesto Bee, P.O. Box 5256, Modesto 95352; 578-2284 or mrowland@modbee.com.