and proclaiming it “A GOOD PLACE TO LIVE”). Rhinehart was talking largely about
the revitalization of Bristol’s downtown district into a destination for food, drink and culture, but an even bigger transfor- mation may be in the offing if Bristol, Virginia, voters decide this November to allow a long-proposed casino to be built in the city.
Gambling on gaming During its 2020 session, the Virginia
General Assembly legalized casinos to operate in five economically challenged localities, including Bristol. Only one casino is allowed to operate in each locality. Gov. Northam indicated in early March that he intended to sign the casino legislation. However, it would still require approval by Bristol voters in a local referendum, to be placed on the ballot in November’s presidential election. So far, the only casino project
proposed for the city is the $400 million Hard Rock Casino Bristol, helmed by local businessmen Jim McGlothlin, CEO of The United Co., and Clyde Stacy, the president of Par Ventures LLC, both of whom have longtime ties to the coal
industry and have been friends since high school. Hard Rock International, which would operate the casino, is an equity partner in the venture, which McGlothlin says would include a 100,000-square- foot convention center, 600-room hotel, and dozens of retail shops and restaurants. If approved, the Hard Rock Casino
Bristol will be built on the site of the for- mer Bristol Mall, which opened in 1976 but closed in 2017 after losing anchor tenants such as JCPenney and Sears. The Bristol City Council and School
Board have both passed unanimous resolutions supporting the project, which would generate $130 million in revenue annually and create more than 1,000 direct jobs, according to a November 2019 study by the state Joint Legisla- tive Audit and Review Commission ( JLARC). McGlothlin says Bristol is struggling, even though it was removed from the Virginia comptroller’s list of fiscally distressed localities in 2019. The coal industry has significantly declined, hurting not just local companies in that sector, but also the stores and restaurants that benefited from miner families in nearby counties who patronized busi-
nesses in the region’s biggest metro area. Other major regional employers like Bristol Compressors Inc. have closed in recent years, and the city is mired in debt from investing heavily in The Falls, a retail project that’s struggled to attract big-name tenants. “Virginia needs something to help
this city,” McGlothlin says. “If we can build a resort here and have the engine powering it being a casino, it would be a win for everyone.” The Hard Rock Casino Bristol
proposal came under fire from Steve Johnson, a regional developer who has previously feuded with the Bristol, Virginia, city government. A former pro football player, Johnson developed The Pinnacle, a destination retail center just across the state line in Tennessee. Con- struction on The Pinnacle began in 2013, and Bass Pro Shops, its first anchor tenant, opened the next year. Its success inspired Bristol, Virginia, to launch The Falls shopping center — with outdoor retailer Cabela’s, a Bass Pro competitor at the time, as its anchor. But The Falls has largely fallen flat, with Cabela’s clos- ing after it was acquired in 2017 by Bass Pro Shops.
This November, Bristol voters will likely vote on a referendum to approve the proposed $400 million Hard Rock Casino Bristol, which would be built on the site of the now-closed Bristol Mall.
Rendering courtesy Alliance Group
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