Erma Bombeck Remembered: New year a good time to remember Erma’s philosophy

A new friend and table gaming

I made a new friend last week — Martina Mathews, proprietor and chef at her new restaurant

at 470 Lawrence St. in Central City, next to the Heritage Real Estate office. She and a partner

have opened a specialty boutique Cajun-style restaurant featuring authentic southern recipe

favorites like real rice and beans, lobster, shrimp and crab. The little sign out front signals the

day’s specialty at Lan-Yap Café. See their new ad in the WR-C.

Among my Colorado Gambler newspaper files dating back to 1990, when we were early sup-

porters of establishing legal gaming in three selected Colorado cities, I recently re-discovered a

very interesting letter written in 1993. It was addressed to Joe Behm, who at that time was the

president of the Central City Casino Association. Joe is an iconic leader in the gaming industry,

and the last time I saw him, he had a slipped cornea in his eye and was heading to a doctor’s

office. However, today he is very active in Central City development, embodying the old saying,

“History repeats itself.” Here is a letter to Joe from Mark Van Loucks in January 1993. Mark

is alive and well, living in the DTC area. He is an old friend with whom I occasionally dine to

reminisce about the good old days. He was involved in the early casino business and was a part

owner of the Glory Hole—my favorite hangout during the early gaming days, where I played $5

blackjack on the second floor.

Mark is an expert in marketing, dating back to the rise of cable television. A wise entrepre-

neur, here are a few portions of his letter to Joe about a story in The Denver Post about gaming

success and failures that rings true today:

“So, this business wasn’t the no-brainer gravy train some thought it was. Surprise, it never is!”

“We’ve got to stop with the excuse: the tax is too high; the city won’t move fast enough; there are

too many machines; Central City is one (whole mile) further than Black Hawk; it’s too cold; it’s

too hot; and so on. We’ve got to stop whining and start selling:”

He suggested some marketing ideas such as, “Restore or recreate the thing that has brought

millions of people to Central City for years, long before gaming.” Another suggestion, “Get the

old train running, it was a great tourist attraction.”

Mark has many ideas, including

significant summer attractions

to attract visitors to Central City.

This strategy has proven effective,

leading to several large summer

events. He presents various mar-

keting strategies, with a strong

focus on advertising, especially in

newspapers. I appreciate Mark!

I know that Joe Behm is once

again using his marketing skills

for Central City, and we should

have a busy summer. It would be

great if The Century Casino would

reopen its table games. Grand

Z is the only place to play cards,

and they have posted a sign on

the front of their casino building

to that effect. We have a new city

council with great minds and suc-

cessful business acumen. We need

to obtain new licenses and reopen

some of the historic buildings.

Black Hawk’s new mine tour

will be a tourist boost for both

cities. The proposed new gon-

dola linking Central City to Idaho

Springs is sensational for both

cities.

Grand Z Casino and Tiger Dragon are the only casinos in

Central City that offer players live table games.

Photo by Bob Sweeney

Erma Bombeck Remembered: New year a good time to remember Erma’s philosophy

Patrick Henry Sweeney

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