Amid a great deal of fanfare on Wednesday, officials from the casino and state government – including Governor Jerry Brown – unveiled the renovations of the old Bicycle Casino, now under its new moniker of the Bicycle Hotel and Casino in Bell Gardens, CA.
One of the venerable card rooms in the Golden State, “The Bike” used to be exclusively one of the top casinos in the Los Angeles area. Long a critique of the card room, however, was the lack of accommodations, especially during some of their major poker tournaments on its property (the Legends of Poker, long a stalwart of the World Poker Tour, falls in this category). With the ribbon-cutting ceremony this week, “The Bike” now has such an amenity.
After a Harley-Davidson motorcycle parade replete with tuxedo-clad riders carrying models with playing cards that spelled out “BICYCLE,” Hashem Minaiy, the Bicycle Hotel and Casino’s Chief Executive Officer and Managing General Partner, cut the ribbon to the refurbished property with Governor Brown by his side. “Today was one of the most exciting days for all of us here at The Bicycle Hotel & Casino, and for the city of Bell Gardens,” Minaiy stated after the ceremonies. “This is truly a dream realized and we look forward to welcoming our first guest in just a few short weeks on December 1.”
Those sentiments were echoed by another member of the Bicycle ownership. ““Hashem and I set out to not only build a beautiful hotel for our guests, but a great property that can be shared with and enjoyed by everyone in the community,” Robert Carter, the President of Carter Management Group, Inc. (a general partner of the Bicycle Hotel and Casino), noted during the ceremonies. “Having the Governor, city officials and all of our guests here to see the hotel for the first time made this a most memorable day.”
The new facilities are laid in beside what is arguably a landmark in Los Angeles and an icon of the poker scene. The casino, which already boasts 185 tables, is the home for some of the biggest tournaments in the United States and can be seen weekly, streamed during broadcasts of “Live at the Bike.” Now, when players have completed their evening of play, they may be fortunate enough to simply move over to the “hotel” side of the property for a good night’s rest.
With 99 rooms and suites, the Bicycle Hotel and Casino is going to great lengths to ensure comfort for its visitors. The guestrooms will have king and queen size beds and the luxury suites – 29 in all – have something for everyone. There is the Classic Suite (a 648 square foot suite), the signature Bike Suite (904 sq. ft.), the extravagantly curated Governor’s Suite (1,359 sq. ft.), and the Presidential Suite (2,007 sq. ft.) fashioned to host and impress with its two bedrooms, formal living room, and Jacuzzi tub.
There has been a great deal of care put into the amenities of the property. A state-of-the-art fitness center, an outdoor pool deck with cabanas and a hotel spa and sauna add to the luxury of a stay at “The Bike.” There are also 9000 square feet of event and private meeting space for special business presentations, conventions and banquets.
Another part of the $50 million in renovations done to the property include its dining options. A new microbrewery, The Bike Brewery, will feature a full menu and 28 beers on tap, including their own The Bike Brew. That particular concoction is a blonde ale that has been brewed especially for the Bicycle Hotel and Casino. Other dining options include the Coffee House, a 24/7 snack bar and in-room dining for all guests.
The next couple of weeks are the “soft open,” set to give the Bicycle Hotel and Casino staff time to work out the kinks of the operation. On December 1, the property will open its doors to the public and it should be welcomed by many that call “The Bike” home.
