By KEVIN CHIRI
Slidell news bureau
SLIDELL – In a lot of ways, the casino referendum in front of voters this Saturday, Dec. 11 is a test to see how much Slidell residents appreciate the real local restaurants.
At least that is the way Dan DeBlanc and Chris Legrand see it.
DeBlanc, who opened Southside Café on Pontchartrain Drive in 1991, and now heads the popular operation with Managing Partner Legrand, said there is no doubt in their minds that if the casino is approved to open in Slidell it will be devastating to local restaurants.
“The vast majority of customers going to local restaurants only have so many dollars each week to spend on things like going out to eat,” DeBlanc said. “The casinos give away so much stuff to get you out there to gamble and have so many specials that a lot of the people coming here will be going there instead.”
The proposed Camellia Bay casino, planned for 100 acres of land at the Oak Harbor exit off I-10, has stated publicly they plan to have 10 restaurants.
“Their business model during the week when the customer traffic is lighter is to lure people with free food and drink,” said Legrand. “You can’t blame people for wanting to get things for free and we will certainly lose a percent of our customer base, just like other local restaurants will be hurt too.”
DeBlanc said that Southside Café employs approximately 80 people, and the large number of them have been there for many years.
“Our staff here is a big family,” he said. “A lot of our employees started as high school kids and now over 30 years later they are married with their own kids, but still work with us.
“If this casino passes it will positively hurt our business and we will have no choice but to lay off people. That would be devastating to us,” Legrand said.
The casino advertising mailouts continue to tout Camellia Bay as a “destination casino,” meaning they believe they will draw lots of out-of-towners who will then frequent the local restaurants as well.
Legrand said he can’t see that happening when you consider the much bigger casinos in New Orleans and Biloxi.
“They cannot compete with the Gulf Coast casinos or Harrah’s in New Orleans,” he added. “The customers that go to this Slidell casino will be locals, and they will spend the money they used to spend at Slidell restaurants and stores. Not only does that hurt local business, but it will cut into Slidell’s sales tax as well.”
Legrand, who helped open Southside with DeBlanc in 1991 after working elsewhere as a bartender, said it is the loyal customer base that has supported Southside, and other local restaurants, for years. But if a casino is suddenly throwing all kinds of free offers around, he wouldn’t blame some of those people to head there.
“The locals have always supported us tremendously,” he noted. “We always want to get new customers, but the idea this casino will draw new people to us is crazy. They are going to send out free offers and that will hit us hard.
“The result is that the people who depend on us for their livelihood are ultimately going to be hurt. We don’t want to make tough decisions and let them go, but I see that happening if this casino gets approved. Overall, I am certain this will be a negative effect on Slidell businesses,” he added.
DeBlanc was quick to agree.
“The casino will have a detrimental effect on all mom-and-pop businesses in Slidell,” he said. “So, I guess we will see how important it is to Slidell residents to stand on the side of local restaurants and other businesses against this national company.”