John Park had a vision for Stockton Boulevard‘s old Silver Fox card room. The gleaming Parkwest Casino Lotus is that dream realized. “I saw the potential. I’m lucky it was here,” John said. The new owner and design team spent 18 months envisioning a first-class casino, with construction lasting two years. Opened in 2017, the expanded 16,000-square-foot Lotus boasts 17 card tables plus a full bar and restaurant.
After purchasing the card room in 2010, it quickly became clear the old 6,000-square-foot, six-table facility was cramped and in need of a facelift. “There was a problem with the old building. We asked our staff what they wanted,” John commented. “We scheduled ‘town hall meetings’ for each department – dealers, food, security – by the time we finished, we decided it just couldn’t be fixed.”
The design was kept a complete secret, even from casino staff. On the grand reveal, customers and staff were amazed! The excitement was palpable. Vietnamese-centric, the resort-style card room is beautifully aesthetic and pristine. No detail overlooked, a spectacular, one-of-a-kind fabric and crystal chandelier is suspended above the main floor and Vietnamese artwork adorns the walls.
“Very much a neighborhood place, we wanted people to feel comfortable,” John says. “Lotus is a spark. We’re hoping that people will build on this to improve the Boulevard.”
Parkwest Casino Lotus is open 24/7. A comfortable smoke-free environment, the casino features popular table games EZ Baccarat, Pai Gow Poker, Blackjack X, Three-Card Poker, and Pai Gow Tiles—the oldest casino game which is traced back to the Song Dynasty. The restaurant lounge serves American and authentic Asian cuisine with dining from 6:30 a.m. to 5 a.m. Oh, yes, and happy hour from 4 to 8 p.m.