Tilman Fertitta talks gambling in Texas
blogHOUSTON favorite Bruce Nichols of the Dallas Morning News posts a good story on Houston restaurateur Tilman Fertitta, who seems to have been thinking quite a bit about gambling in Texas:
If casino gambling comes to the Lone Star State, a Texan – restaurateur Tilman Fertitta – is an odds-on favorite to build the first one, though he's keeping his cards close to the vest for now.
Landry's Restaurants owner Tilman Fertitta says he doesn't care whether casinos come to Texas. But he recently agreed to buy the Golden Nugget in Las Vegas.
"I don't really care if they pass it in Texas or not," Mr. Fertitta said in an interview.
But as the conversation continued, it became clear that he's thought about it a great deal.
Unsurprisingly, many of Ferttita's recommendations seem self-serving.
The end of the story has this fun tidbit:
"In my dealings with him, he's always been professional, but he's passionate and he is aggressive," said Houston City Controller Annise Parker, who as a City Council member opposed some of Mr. Fertitta's plans in downtown Houston.
"He's thoroughly trounced me every time I've butted heads with him," Ms. Parker said.
City Council generally rolls over for Fertitta, which is why his Aquarium restaurant/zoo now sits on property that once contained a firehouse that the city conveniently relocated during Parker's time on council. The city's only newspaper isn't exactly a Fertitta critic either.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 03/15/05 10:43 PM | Print |
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